Barry County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Thornapple Township, Hastings and Yankee Springs Township
Barry 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. Electrical contractors employ 83, up 69.4% since 2019 against up 23.2% statewide, at an average $54,657 a year. Barry County is home to Thornapple Township, Hastings, Yankee Springs Township and Middleville. Construction employs 642, up 27.4% since 2019. 2 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by NAPS - Hastings LLC (other technologies). Next door, Calhoun County has 1,500 MW of planned generation.
Cities and towns in Barry County
Barry County is home to Thornapple Township, Hastings, Yankee Springs Township and Middleville.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Delton, Dowling, Hickory Corners.
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 Barry County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 62,599 | 63,991 | ▲ 2.2% | 32nd of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 12,688 | 13,286 | ▲ 4.7% | 23rd of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,982 | $52,672 | ▲ 28.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 504 | 642 | ▲ 27.4% | 12th of 69 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 49 | 83 | ▲ 69.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.6% | 4.6% | ▲ 1.0pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 2 MW | no fleet today | 25th of 25 by size |
Unemployment was 4.6% in August 2026, against 3.6% in 2019. Employers here counted 13,286 jobs in 2025, up 4.7% from 2019. Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Barry County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.11¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.89¢ median for Michigan utilities. 63,991 people live here, up 2.2% since 2020.
Who powers Barry County
Utilities with service territory in Barry 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% |
| Great Lakes Energy Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 120,645 | 19.17¢ | 12% |
| Tri-County Electric Coop (MI) | Cooperative | Bundled | 23,034 | 18.04¢ | 13% |
| Wolverine Power Supply Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Barry County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings Generating Facility | Landfill Gas | 2 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | NAPS - Hastings LLC |
The Barry County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 13,286 | $52,672 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 642 | $62,191 | 0.91 |
| Electrical contractors | 83 | $54,657 | 0.87 |
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 Barry County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Barry County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Calhoun County.
Barry County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Barry County, Calhoun 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry County | 63,991 | ▲ 4.7% | — | 2 MW | — | — |
| Allegan County | 123,188 | ▲ 8.7% | 230 MW | — | — | — |
| Calhoun County | 133,408 | ▲ 1.1% | 624 MW | 1,500 MW | — | 1 |
| Eaton County | 109,581 | ▲ 8.3% | 287 MW | — | 5 | — |
| Ionia County | 66,557 | ▼ 7.4% | 8 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Kalamazoo County | 263,795 | ▲ 0.9% | 96 MW | 220 MW | 1 | — |
| Kent County | 675,232 | ▲ 2.6% | 72 MW | — | 10 | — |
More of Michigan
Barry County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Barry County, Michigan?
4 utilities have service territory in Barry County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Consumers Energy Co - (MI), Great Lakes Energy Coop, Tri-County Electric Coop (MI), Wolverine Power Supply Coop. The largest, Consumers Energy Co - (MI), charged residential customers 19.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Barry County?
2 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is NAPS - Hastings LLC.
Are there data centers in Barry County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Barry County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Calhoun County.
Is Barry County adding jobs?
Employers counted 13,286 jobs in 2025 against 12,688 in 2019 (+4.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 504 to 642.
Does Barry County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Barry County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.