Powhatan County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Powhatan
Powhatan County sits inside the data center build-out. Construction employs 1,922, up 28.9% since 2019, and construction is 4.2 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Powhatan County. Powhatan County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Powhatan, are unincorporated and governed by the county. 1 project is on the Delay Watchlist, including Powhatan County data center zoning proposal (Route 60/Page Road). Employers here counted 8,689 jobs in 2025, up 17.6% from 2019 (the 9th fastest growth of 133 Virginia counties).
Cities and towns in Powhatan County
Powhatan County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Powhatan, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Powhatan.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Powhatan County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 30,453 | 32,591 | ▲ 7.0% | 56th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,389 | 8,689 | ▲ 17.6% | 9th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,156 | $56,297 | ▲ 36.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,491 | 1,922 | ▲ 28.9% | 19th of 83 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.4% | 2.9% | ▲ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 83 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
83 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 120 MW of capacity, 67% of it solar. Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 2.4% in 2019. Virginia Electric & Power Co is the largest utility serving Powhatan County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.09¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. 32,591 people live here, up 7.0% since 2020.
Who powers Powhatan County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +83 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Powhatan County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Electric & Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,383,548 | 14.09¢ | 63% |
| Southside Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 56,846 | 15.48¢ | 12% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 5
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 80 MW | 67% |
| Battery storage | 40 MW | 33% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Solar Farm | Dominion Energy Inc. | Solar | 57 MW | 2016 |
| North Ridge Solar | Dominion Renewable Energy | Solar | 20 MW | 2025 |
| Scott-II Solar LLC | Dominion Renewable Energy | Solar | 20 MW | 2017 |
| Quillwort Solar | Dominion Renewable Energy | Solar | 18 MW | 2025 |
| HCE Powhatan Solar, LLC | Standard Solar | Solar | 5 MW | 2023 |
The Powhatan County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 8,689 | $56,297 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,922 | $66,782 | 4.17 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Powhatan County
1 data center in Powhatan County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Delay Watchlist 1
| Project | Status | Cause | MW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powhatan County data center zoning proposal (Route 60/Page Road) | delayed | — |
Powhatan County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Powhatan County, Chesterfield County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powhatan County | 32,591 | ▲ 17.6% | 120 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Amelia County | 13,632 | ▼ 0.6% | 28 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Chesterfield County | 397,148 | ▲ 8.4% | 504 MW | 1,163 MW | 6 | — |
| Cumberland County | 10,352 | ▲ 14.9% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Goochland County | 29,187 | ▲ 7.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Henrico County | 342,775 | ▲ 0.4% | 398 MW | 20 MW | 29 | — |
More of Virginia
Powhatan County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Powhatan County, Virginia?
2 utilities have service territory in Powhatan County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Virginia Electric & Power Co, Southside Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Virginia Electric & Power Co, charged residential customers 14.09¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Powhatan County?
5 operating plants with 120 MW of capacity. The largest is Scott Solar Farm (57 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Powhatan County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Powhatan County.
Is Powhatan County adding jobs?
Employers counted 8,689 jobs in 2025 against 7,389 in 2019 (+17.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,491 to 1,922.
Does Powhatan County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Powhatan County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.