Wise County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Big Stone Gap, Wise and Coeburn
The data center boom is not abstract in Wise County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Wise County. Wise County is home to Big Stone Gap, Wise, Coeburn and Appalachia. 20 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by BQ Energy Development (solar). Electrical contractors employ 50, up 35.1% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $71,187 a year. Its power plants have 671 MW of capacity, 100% of it coal.
Cities and towns in Wise County
Wise County is home to Big Stone Gap, Wise, Coeburn and Appalachia.
- St. Paul also extends into Russell County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Big Stone Gap East, Dunbar, East Stone Gap, Osaka, Riverview, Stonega, Tacoma, The University of Virginia's College at Wise.
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 Wise County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 36,072 | 34,824 | ▼ 3.5% | 49th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11,677 | 10,958 | ▼ 6.2% | 107th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,719 | $48,431 | ▲ 39.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 244 | 243 | ▼ 0.4% | 64th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 37 | 50 | ▲ 35.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.4% | 4.9% | ▲ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 3 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 20 MW | 3% of today's fleet | 22nd of 29 by size |
Employers here counted 10,958 jobs in 2025, down 6.2% from 2019. 3 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Construction employs 243, down 0.4% since 2019. Unemployment was 4.9% in August 2026, against 4.4% in 2019. Appalachian Power Co is the largest utility serving Wise County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.02¢/kWh in 2024, above the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. 34,824 people live here, down 3.5% since 2020.
Who powers Wise County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +3 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Wise County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 465,283 | 17.02¢ | 26% |
| Kentucky Utilities Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 22,669 | 14.28¢ | 37% |
| Powell Valley Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 6,589 | 11.42¢ | 25% |
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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 668 MW | 100% |
| Solar | 3 MW | 0% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center | Virginia Electric & Power Co | Coal | 668 MW | 2012 |
| Mineral Gap | Madison Energy Investments LLC | Solar | 3 MW | 2023 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Wise Solar Project | Solar Photovoltaic | 20 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | BQ Energy Development |
The Wise County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,958 | $48,431 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 243 | $54,432 | 0.42 |
| Electrical contractors | 50 | $71,187 | 0.63 |
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 Wise County
1 data center in Wise County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Wise County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Wise County, Pike 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise County | 34,824 | ▼ 6.2% | 671 MW | 20 MW | 1 | — |
| Dickenson County | 13,236 | ▼ 2.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Harlan County KY | 24,725 | ▲ 1.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Lee County | 21,642 | ▲ 0.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Letcher County KY | 19,952 | ▼ 5.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Norton (city) | 3,477 | ▼ 7.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Pike County KY | 54,721 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | 2 | — |
| Russell County | 25,332 | ▼ 9.0% | 475 MW | — | — | — |
| Scott County | 21,200 | ▼ 2.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Wise County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Wise County, Virginia?
3 utilities have service territory in Wise County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Appalachian Power Co, Kentucky Utilities Co, Powell Valley Electric Coop. The largest, Appalachian Power Co, charged residential customers 17.02¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Wise County?
2 operating plants with 671 MW of capacity. The largest is Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center (668 MW, coal).
How much new power is planned in Wise County?
20 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is BQ Energy Development.
Are there data centers in Wise County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Wise County.
Is Wise County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,958 jobs in 2025 against 11,677 in 2019 (-6.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 244 to 243.
Does Wise County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Wise County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.