MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI — Consumers Energy’s largest-ever solar array is now up and running to ring in the new year.

The utility on Monday, Jan. 5, announced the start of operations for Muskegon Solar, a 1,900-acre solar farm at the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center, the county’s wastewater plant in Moorland Township.

The sprawling array can generate 250 megawatts of electricity – enough to power about 40,000 homes and businesses. It is Consumers Energy’s largest solar project to date, according to the utility.

“Consumers Energy is building the electric grid of the future to serve Michigan homes and businesses,” Sri Maddipati, Consumers Energy’s president of electric supply, said in a statement. “Muskegon Solar provides an example of the reliable, cost-effective projects we’re creating to make sure we continue to meet our customers’ needs.”

The solar array’s 550,000-plus panels are arranged in 5,200 rows that rotate to follow the sun’s path, generating energy from sunrise to sunset.

Construction on the approximately $350 million project began in April 2024. The project created more than 200 construction jobs.

“This project is a testament to the skill and dedication of the local men and women building it, and we’re proud to partner with Consumers Energy on such a landmark project for the region,” Chad Cotter, vice president at Burns & McDonnell, the project’s general contractor, said in a statement.

In September, Muskegon Solar was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy through its Renewables Ready Communities Awards program.

The project qualified for the state award because the program aims to accelerate the build-out of large-scale renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and storage by providing these incentives for communities that permit and host the projects.

Consumers Energy has a stated goal of producing 8,000 megawatts of solar energy by 2040.

In 2020, about 11% of Consumers Energy’s energy came from renewable sources such as solar and wind. By 2040, the goal is to have renewables be the primary energy source at 63%.

Muskegon County’s 11,000-acre wastewater facility sprays partially treated wastewater on crops as part of the final treatment process. The facility primarily grows corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

Reserving the 1,900 acres, including 1,000 acres previously used for crops, for the solar farm will still leave the county with 4,000 acres on which to grow crops, officials have said.

Muskegon County entered a 28-year agreement to lease the property to Consumers Energy, with 2% annual increases. After the agreement ends, Consumers has the option to renew it for another 35 years.