Consumers Energy has officially announced the commencement of commercial operations at the Muskegon Solar Energy Center, a massive 250-megawatt photovoltaic facility located in Moorland Township that represents a pivotal achievement in the utility’s comprehensive strategy to transition Michigan’s power grid toward renewable sources while phasing out legacy fossil fuel generation. This significant infrastructure milestone, which involved the installation of approximately 530,000 solar panels across 1,900 acres of repurposed land, serves as a critical component of the company’s ambitious Reliability Roadmap that targets the addition of 8,000 megawatts of solar capacity by 2040 to ensure long-term energy security for the state.
By bringing this utility-scale project online, Consumers Energy is not only delivering enough clean electricity to power approximately 40,000 homes annually but is also effectively replacing the baseload capacity lost from the scheduled retirement of aging coal-fired power plants, demonstrating a tangible commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
Repurposing Land for Sustainable Generation
The development of the Muskegon Solar Energy Center showcases an innovative approach to land use by situating a substantial portion of the solar array on property previously utilized for wastewater treatment, transforming an underutilized industrial site into a productive engine for green energy generation—mirroring broader renewable strides such as SolarMax securing EPC contracts for two utility-scale 400 MWh battery storage projects in Puerto Rico—that benefits the local community through substantial tax revenue and job creation. Utilizing advanced bifacial solar module technology that captures sunlight from both the front and rear sides of the panel, the facility maximizes energy yield during Michigan’s variable weather conditions, ensuring a consistent power output that bolsters the resilience of the regional distribution network against increasing demand.
Further, the successful execution of this project underscores the viability of large-scale solar deployment in the Midwest, proving that strategic site selection combined with cutting-edge engineering can overcome geographical challenges to deliver reliable, cost-effective renewable power to residential and commercial customers alike.
Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition
This facility is merely the first in a series of planned large-scale developments intended to radically reshape Consumers Energy’s generation portfolio, as the company aggressively pursues the closure of its remaining coal plants by mid-2025 to meet the stringent environmental targets outlined in its Integrated Resource Plan. The operational launch of the Muskegon Solar Energy Center provides immediate environmental dividends by offsetting thousands of tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, serving as a tangible proof-of-concept for future projects that will eventually comprise the backbone of a decentralized, carbon-free electric grid.
As the company continues to solicit bids for additional solar and battery storage capacity, the Muskegon project stands as a benchmark for speed and scale, illustrating how investor-owned utilities can rapidly deploy capital to drive the energy transition while maintaining affordable rates for ratepayers.
Muskegon Solar Energy Center: Factsheet
Location: Moorland Township, Muskegon County, Michigan
Owner/Operator: Consumers Energy
Total Capacity: 250 Megawatts (MW)
Site Size: ~1,900 Acres
Technology: ~530,000 Bifacial Solar Panels
Homes Powered: ~40,000 annually
Land Use: Repurposed wastewater treatment site
Strategic Context:
Part of the “Reliability Roadmap” (8,000 MW solar by 2040).
Supports retirement of coal assets by 2025.
Contributes to Net Zero 2040 goal.
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