Douglas County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to East Wenatchee, Bridgeport and Rock Island
Douglas County sits inside the data center build-out. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 8 data centers in Douglas County, 7% of Washington's total. Douglas County is home to East Wenatchee, Bridgeport, Rock Island and Waterville. Its power plants have 2,456 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro, the 3rd largest fleet in Washington. Construction employs 796, up 10.7% since 2019. Unemployment was 4.7% in August 2026, against 6.1% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Douglas County
Douglas County is home to East Wenatchee, Bridgeport, Rock Island and Waterville.
- Coulee Dam also extends into Okanogan County.
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 Douglas County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 43,033 | 46,473 | ▲ 8.0% | 25th of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 12,555 | 12,413 | ▼ 1.1% | 35th of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,913 | $54,341 | ▲ 39.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 719 | 796 | ▲ 10.7% | 12th of 33 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.1% | 4.7% | ▼ 1.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Electrical contractors employ 22, at an average $86,520 a year. PUD No 2 of Grant County is the largest utility serving Douglas County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 6.01¢/kWh in 2024, below the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. 46,473 people live here, up 8.0% since 2020. Employers here counted 12,413 jobs in 2025, down 1.1% from 2019.
Who powers Douglas County
Utilities with service territory in Douglas County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUD No 2 of Grant County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 42,485 | 6.01¢ | 57% |
| PUD No 1 of Douglas County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 16,667 | 3.15¢ | 69% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 56% |
| City of Coulee Dam - (WA) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nespelem Valley Elec Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 2,456 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Joseph | USACE Northwestern Division | Hydro | 2,456 MW | 1955 |
The Douglas County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 12,413 | $54,341 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 796 | $64,907 | 1.21 |
| Electrical contractors | 22 | $86,520 | 0.25 |
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 Douglas County
8 data centers in Douglas County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Douglas County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Douglas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 46,473 | ▼ 1.1% | 2,456 MW | — | 8 | — |
| Chelan County | 81,941 | ▲ 0.9% | 2,905 MW | 50 MW | — | — |
| Grant County | 105,727 | ▲ 5.8% | 9,098 MW | 650 MW | 27 | — |
| Kittitas County | 48,803 | ▲ 9.1% | 483 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Okanogan County | 45,230 | ▲ 4.2% | — | — | — | — |
More of Washington
Douglas County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Douglas County, Washington?
5 utilities have service territory in Douglas County in the EIA-861 2024 report: PUD No 2 of Grant County, PUD No 1 of Douglas County, Bonneville Power Administration, City of Coulee Dam - (WA). The largest, PUD No 2 of Grant County, charged residential customers 6.01¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is East Wenatchee, WA in?
East Wenatchee is in Douglas County, Washington. About 14,414 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Douglas County?
1 operating plant with 2,456 MW of capacity. The largest is Chief Joseph (2,456 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Douglas County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 8 data centers in Douglas County.
Is Douglas County adding jobs?
Employers counted 12,413 jobs in 2025 against 12,555 in 2019 (-1.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 719 to 796.
Does Douglas County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Douglas County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.