Adams County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Othello and Ritzville
No data center or power plant project is on record in Adams County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Adams County is home to Othello, Ritzville and Lind. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 6.3% in 2019. 126 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by EDP Renewables North America LLC (wind), the 8th largest pipeline among Washington's counties. Next door, Grant County has 27 data centers and 650 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 9,782 jobs in 2025, up 10.3% from 2019 (the 2nd fastest growth of 39 Washington counties).
Cities and towns in Adams County
Adams County is home to Othello, Ritzville and Lind.
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 Adams County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 20,610 | 21,488 | ▲ 4.3% | 31st of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,870 | 9,782 | ▲ 10.3% | 2nd of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,282 | $55,132 | ▲ 36.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.3% | 4.0% | ▼ 2.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 144 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 126 MW | 74% of today's fleet | 8th of 11 by size |
144 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly wind. Its power plants have 169 MW of capacity, 85% of it wind. Avista Corp is the largest utility serving Adams County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.87¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. 21,488 people live here, up 4.3% since 2020.
Who powers Adams County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +144 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Adams County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avista Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 246,055 | 11.87¢ | 37% |
| PUD No 2 of Grant County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 42,485 | 6.01¢ | 57% |
| Inland Power & Light Company | Cooperative | Bundled | 41,684 | 8.98¢ | 20% |
| Big Bend Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,841 | 9.10¢ | 21% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 56% |
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 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 144 MW | 85% |
| Solar | 19 MW | 11% |
| Hydro | 6 MW | 4% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnake Flat | Rattlesnake Flat, LLC | Wind | 144 MW | 2020 |
| Adams Nielson Solar | Strata Manager, LLC | Solar | 19 MW | 2018 |
| Russell D Smith | Columbia Basin Hydropower | Hydro | 6 MW | 1982 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saddle Mountain East Wind Farm | Onshore Wind Turbine | 126 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2029 | EDP Renewables North America LLC |
The Adams County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,782 | $55,132 | 1.00 |
| Electric utilities | 45 | $189,103 | 1.70 |
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 Adams County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Adams County. Washington has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Lincoln County.
Adams County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Adams County, Grant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 21,488 | ▲ 10.3% | 169 MW | 126 MW | — | — |
| Franklin County | 102,612 | ▲ 8.6% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Grant County | 105,727 | ▲ 5.8% | 9,098 MW | 650 MW | 27 | — |
| Lincoln County | 11,982 | ▼ 0.6% | 113 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Whitman County | 48,512 | ▼ 0.1% | 920 MW | — | — | — |
More of Washington
Adams County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Adams County, Washington?
5 utilities have service territory in Adams County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Avista Corp, PUD No 2 of Grant County, Inland Power & Light Company, Big Bend Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Avista Corp, charged residential customers 11.87¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Adams County?
3 operating plants with 169 MW of capacity. The largest is Rattlesnake Flat (144 MW, wind).
How much new power is planned in Adams County?
126 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is EDP Renewables North America LLC.
Are there data centers in Adams County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Adams County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Grant County.
Is Adams County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,782 jobs in 2025 against 8,870 in 2019 (+10.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Adams County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Adams County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.