Arenac County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Deep River Township, Standish Township and Standish
Arenac 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. Arenac County is home to Deep River Township, Standish Township, Standish and Moffatt Township. 175 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by DTE Electric Company (solar), the 10th largest pipeline among Michigan's counties. 175 MW of it is already under construction or built. Construction employs 116, up 19.6% since 2019. Employers here counted 3,940 jobs in 2025, down 9.9% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 18, at an average $74,055 a year.
Cities and towns in Arenac County
Arenac County is home to Deep River Township, Standish Township, Standish and Moffatt Township.
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 Arenac County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,998 | 15,068 | ▲ 0.5% | 68th of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,371 | 3,940 | ▼ 9.9% | 79th of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,303 | $48,672 | ▲ 34.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 97 | 116 | ▲ 19.6% | 27th of 69 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.1% | 6.1% | ● 0.0pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 175 MW | no fleet today | 10th of 25 by size |
Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Arenac County. Its residential customers paid an average 19.11¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.89¢ median for Michigan utilities. Unemployment was 6.1% in August 2026, against 6.1% in 2019. 15,068 people live here, up 0.5% since 2020.
Who powers Arenac County
Utilities with service territory in Arenac County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumers Energy Co - (MI) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,657,843 | 19.11¢ | 36% |
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 Arenac County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Au Gres Solar Park | Solar Photovoltaic | 175 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2028 | DTE Electric Company |
The Arenac County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,940 | $48,672 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 116 | $49,040 | 0.56 |
| Electrical contractors | 18 | $74,055 | 0.63 |
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 Arenac County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Arenac County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Arenac County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Arenac County, Bay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arenac County | 15,068 | ▼ 9.9% | — | 175 MW | — | — |
| Bay County | 102,123 | ▼ 0.8% | 1,434 MW | 80 MW | — | — |
| Gladwin County | 26,077 | ▲ 9.3% | 20 MW | 145 MW | — | — |
| Iosco County | 25,266 | ▼ 3.7% | 28 MW | — | — | — |
| Ogemaw County | 21,121 | ▲ 7.1% | — | — | — | — |
More of Michigan
Arenac County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Arenac County, Michigan?
1 utility has service territory in Arenac County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Consumers Energy Co - (MI). The largest, Consumers Energy Co - (MI), charged residential customers 19.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Arenac County?
175 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 175 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is DTE Electric Company.
Are there data centers in Arenac County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Arenac County.
Is Arenac County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,940 jobs in 2025 against 4,371 in 2019 (-9.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 97 to 116.
Does Arenac County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Arenac County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.