Roane County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Spencer
Roane County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Unemployment was 5.5% in August 2026, against 9.5% in 2019. Roane County is home to Spencer. Next door, Kanawha County has 3 data centers. Construction employs 155, down 11.9% since 2019. Employers here counted 2,749 jobs in 2025, down 4.3% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Roane County
Roane County is home to Spencer.
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 Roane County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 13,988 | 13,317 | ▼ 4.8% | 39th of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,872 | 2,749 | ▼ 4.3% | 41st of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,944 | $50,187 | ▲ 28.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 176 | 155 | ▼ 11.9% | 19th of 26 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 9.5% | 5.5% | ▼ 4.0pts | — |
Appalachian Power Co is the largest utility serving Roane County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities. 13,317 people live here, down 4.8% since 2020.
Who powers Roane County
Utilities with service territory in Roane County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 348,946 | 16.77¢ | 27% |
| Monongahela Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 334,588 | 13.97¢ | 26% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Roane County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Roane County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,749 | $50,187 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 155 | $58,035 | 1.06 |
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 Roane County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Roane County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Roane County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Roane County, Kanawha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roane County | 13,317 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Calhoun County | 5,978 | ▲ 8.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Clay County | 7,538 | ▲ 23.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Jackson County | 27,450 | ▼ 13.1% | 192 MW | — | — | — |
| Kanawha County | 172,381 | ▼ 0.6% | 29 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Wirt County | 4,879 | ▲ 24.7% | — | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Roane County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Roane County, West Virginia?
2 utilities have service territory in Roane County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Appalachian Power Co, Monongahela Power Co. The largest, Appalachian Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Roane County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Roane County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Kanawha County.
Is Roane County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,749 jobs in 2025 against 2,872 in 2019 (-4.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 176 to 155.
Does Roane County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Roane County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.