Consumers Energy has brought its largest-ever solar array online in Muskegon County, a major step in its multiyear renewable energy transition.

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New solar farm rings in New Year with full operations

The Muskegon Solar project, located at the county’s wastewater plant in Moorland Township, is now officially generating electricity as of Jan. 5. This 1,900-acre array is Consumers Energy’s largest solar project to date.

Significant power generation capacity

The facility’s more than 550,000 rotating solar panels can produce 250 megawatts of electricity. This output is enough to supply power to approximately 40,000 homes and businesses.

A $350 million investment with job creation

Construction on the approximately $350 million project began in April 2024 and created over 200 construction jobs. The project also received a $1.5 million state grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s Renewables Ready Communities Awards program.

Long-term land lease agreement with Muskegon County

The solar farm is built on land leased from Muskegon County’s wastewater facility for 28 years, with an option to renew for another 35 years. The array occupies 1,900 acres of the county’s 11,000-acre property, which will continue to grow crops on 4,000 acres.

The county received nearly $668,000 in lease payments in the first year. There will be a 2% annual increases each subsequent year.

A key step in Consumers Energy’s renewable goals

This project is a major milestone in Consumers Energy’s plan to generate 8,000 megawatts of solar energy by 2040. The utility aims for renewables to become its primary energy source, accounting for 63% of its total output by that year.