Hampshire County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Romney
Hampshire County is where a large share of West Virginia's next power plants are planned. Hampshire County is home to Romney. Construction employs 195, up 28.3% since 2019. 150 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Parks Valley Energy LLC (battery storage), the 2nd largest pipeline among West Virginia's counties. Employers here counted 4,248 jobs in 2025, up 13.8% from 2019 (the 7th fastest growth of 55 West Virginia counties). 20 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Hampshire County
Hampshire County is home to Romney.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Green Spring, Springfield.
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 Hampshire County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 23,086 | 24,105 | ▲ 4.4% | 24th of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,733 | 4,248 | ▲ 13.8% | 7th of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,856 | $44,780 | ▲ 32.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 152 | 195 | ▲ 28.3% | 6th of 26 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.2% | 3.7% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 20 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 150 MW | 750% of today's fleet | 2nd of 8 by size |
Its power plants have 20 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Electrical contractors employ 15, at an average $65,336 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in August 2026, against 4.2% in 2019. The Potomac Edison Company is the largest utility serving Hampshire County. Its residential customers paid an average 12.59¢/kWh in 2024, below the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities. 24,105 people live here, up 4.4% since 2020.
Who powers Hampshire County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +20 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Hampshire County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Potomac Edison Company | Investor Owned | Bundled | 135,266 | 12.59¢ | 22% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 20 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capon Bridge Solar LLC | Capon Bridge Solar LLC | Solar | 20 MW | 2024 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Valley Energy LLC | Batteries | 150 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Parks Valley Energy LLC |
The Hampshire County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,248 | $44,780 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 195 | $47,978 | 0.87 |
| Electrical contractors | 15 | $65,336 | 0.49 |
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 Hampshire County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hampshire County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Hampshire County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire County | 24,105 | ▲ 13.8% | 20 MW | 150 MW | — | — |
| Allegany County MD | 66,848 | ▼ 8.2% | 75 MW | — | — | — |
| Frederick County VA | 99,955 | ▲ 16.4% | 223 MW | 30 MW | 1 | — |
| Grant County | 11,041 | ▲ 12.0% | 2,048 MW | — | — | — |
| Hardy County | 14,337 | ▲ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Mineral County | 26,792 | ▲ 10.5% | 169 MW | — | — | — |
| Morgan County | 18,027 | ▲ 10.9% | — | — | 1 | — |
More of West Virginia
Hampshire County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hampshire County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Hampshire County in the EIA-861 2024 report: The Potomac Edison Company. The largest, The Potomac Edison Company, charged residential customers 12.59¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Hampshire County?
1 operating plant with 20 MW of capacity. The largest is Capon Bridge Solar LLC (20 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Hampshire County?
150 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Parks Valley Energy LLC.
Are there data centers in Hampshire County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hampshire County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Frederick County.
Is Hampshire County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,248 jobs in 2025 against 3,733 in 2019 (+13.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 152 to 195.
Does Hampshire County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hampshire County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.