Adams County, Wisconsin: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Rome, New Chester and Adams
Adams 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. Adams County is home to Rome, New Chester, Adams and Dell Prairie. Next door, Portage County has 1,432 MW of planned generation. Construction employs 198, down 2.5% since 2019. 8 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 23 MW of capacity, 64% of it hydro.
Cities and towns in Adams County
Adams County is home to Rome, New Chester, Adams and Dell Prairie.
- Wisconsin Dells also extends into Columbia County, Sauk County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Arkdale, Dellwood, Easton, Grand Marsh, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Camelot, Lake Sherwood.
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 Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 20,687 | 21,752 | ▲ 5.1% | 50th of 72 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,393 | 4,411 | ▲ 0.4% | 29th of 72 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,353 | $48,538 | ▲ 26.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 203 | 198 | ▼ 2.5% | 54th of 61 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.8% | 4.8% | ● 0.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 8 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Wisconsin Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving Adams County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.89¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.25¢ median for Wisconsin utilities. Employers here counted 4,411 jobs in 2025, up 0.4% from 2019. 21,752 people live here, up 5.1% since 2020. Unemployment was 4.8% in August 2026, against 4.8% in 2019.
Who powers Adams County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Power & Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 437,211 | 16.89¢ | 22% |
| Adams-Columbia Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 35,910 | 17.63¢ | 16% |
| Pioneer Power and Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,021 | 17.13¢ | 19% |
| Wisconsin Dells Electric Util | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 15 MW | 64% |
| Solar | 8 MW | 36% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock | Wisconsin River Power Company | Hydro | 15 MW | 1950 |
| Adams PV Plant | Adams PV Plant (WI) | Solar | 8 MW | 2023 |
The Adams County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,411 | $48,538 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 198 | $52,960 | 0.85 |
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. Wisconsin has 49 local measures on record statewide.
Adams County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Adams County, Portage 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 | 21,752 | ▲ 0.4% | 23 MW | — | — | — |
| Columbia County | 58,132 | ▼ 4.2% | 1,300 MW | 500 MW | — | — |
| Juneau County | 26,649 | ▼ 2.3% | 45 MW | 230 MW | — | — |
| Marquette County | 15,927 | ▲ 0.1% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Portage County | 71,943 | ▼ 1.2% | 25 MW | 1,432 MW | — | — |
| Waushara County | 25,223 | ▼ 6.3% | 99 MW | 360 MW | — | — |
| Wood County | 74,060 | ▼ 8.6% | 407 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Wisconsin
Adams County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Adams County, Wisconsin?
4 utilities have service territory in Adams County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Wisconsin Power & Light Co, Adams-Columbia Electric Coop, Pioneer Power and Light Co, Wisconsin Dells Electric Util. The largest, Wisconsin Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 16.89¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Adams County?
2 operating plants with 23 MW of capacity. The largest is Castle Rock (15 MW, hydro).
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 Portage County.
Is Adams County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,411 jobs in 2025 against 4,393 in 2019 (+0.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 203 to 198.
Does Adams County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Adams County. Wisconsin has 49 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.