Charlevoix County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Boyne City, Charlevoix and East Jordan
No data center or power plant project is on record in Charlevoix County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Charlevoix County is home to Boyne City, Charlevoix, East Jordan and Hayes Township. Construction employs 674, up 3.4% since 2019. Employers here counted 10,881 jobs in 2025, up 6.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 4.7% in 2019. Its power plants have 3 MW of capacity, 100% of it petroleum.
Cities and towns in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County is home to Boyne City, Charlevoix, East Jordan and Hayes Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Advance, Bay Shore, Horton Bay, Ironton, Norwood, St. James, Walloon Lake.
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 Charlevoix County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 26,042 | 26,036 | ● 0.0% | 54th of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,241 | 10,881 | ▲ 6.2% | 19th of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $44,864 | $59,554 | ▲ 32.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 652 | 674 | ▲ 3.4% | 56th of 69 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.7% | 3.8% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Electrical contractors employ 66, at an average $69,820 a year. Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Charlevoix 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. 26,036 people live here, down 0.0% since 2020.
Who powers Charlevoix County
Utilities with service territory in Charlevoix 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% |
| City of Charlevoix - (MI) | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum | 3 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Island | Great Lakes Energy Coop | Petroleum | 3 MW | 2000 |
The Charlevoix County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,881 | $59,554 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 674 | $60,090 | 1.17 |
| Electrical contractors | 66 | $69,820 | 0.84 |
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 Charlevoix County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Charlevoix County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Charlevoix County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Charlevoix County, Otsego 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlevoix County | 26,036 | ▲ 6.2% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Antrim County | 24,698 | ▼ 5.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Cheboygan County | 25,793 | ▼ 2.0% | 26 MW | — | — | — |
| Emmet County | 33,775 | ▼ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Otsego County | 26,080 | ▲ 2.9% | 694 MW | — | — | — |
More of Michigan
Charlevoix County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Charlevoix County, Michigan?
4 utilities have service territory in Charlevoix County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Consumers Energy Co - (MI), Great Lakes Energy Coop, City of Charlevoix - (MI), Wolverine Power Supply Coop. The largest, Consumers Energy Co - (MI), charged residential customers 19.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Charlevoix County?
1 operating plant with 3 MW of capacity. The largest is Beaver Island (3 MW, petroleum).
Are there data centers in Charlevoix County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Charlevoix County.
Is Charlevoix County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,881 jobs in 2025 against 10,241 in 2019 (+6.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 652 to 674.
Does Charlevoix County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Charlevoix County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.