Lake County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Webber Township, Pleasant Plains Township and Chase Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in Lake County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Lake County is home to Webber Township, Pleasant Plains Township, Chase Township and Baldwin. Unemployment was 6.2% in August 2026, against 5.6% in 2019. 13,182 people live here, up 9.1% since 2020. Employers here counted 1,694 jobs in 2025, down 2.1% from 2019. Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Lake County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.11¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.89¢ median for Michigan utilities.
Cities and towns in Lake County
Lake County is home to Webber Township, Pleasant Plains Township, Chase Township and Baldwin.
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 Lake County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,086 | 13,182 | ▲ 9.1% | 71st of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,731 | 1,694 | ▼ 2.1% | 60th of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,271 | $42,823 | ▲ 21.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 66 | 79 | ▲ 19.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.6% | 6.2% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
Who powers Lake County
Utilities with service territory in Lake 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% |
| 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 Lake County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Lake County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,694 | $42,823 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 79 | $50,394 | 0.88 |
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 Lake County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Lake County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Lake County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Lake County, Mason 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | 13,182 | ▼ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Manistee County | 25,656 | ▲ 3.7% | 110 MW | — | — | — |
| Mason County | 29,040 | ▼ 1.6% | 2,218 MW | — | — | — |
| Mecosta County | 42,320 | ▼ 7.4% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
| Newaygo County | 51,622 | ▼ 2.4% | 46 MW | — | — | — |
| Oceana County | 27,177 | ▼ 4.6% | 5 MW | 120 MW | — | — |
| Osceola County | 23,516 | ▲ 5.9% | 51 MW | — | — | — |
| Wexford County | 34,445 | ▼ 7.2% | 61 MW | — | — | — |
More of Michigan
Lake County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lake County, Michigan?
3 utilities have service territory in Lake County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Consumers Energy Co - (MI), Great Lakes Energy Coop, Wolverine Power Supply Coop. The largest, Consumers Energy Co - (MI), charged residential customers 19.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Lake County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Lake County.
Is Lake County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,694 jobs in 2025 against 1,731 in 2019 (-2.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 66 to 79.
Does Lake County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Lake County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.