Mason County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Ludington, Hamlin Township and Amber Township
Mason County is a power-producing county: the plants here serve load well beyond its borders. Mason County is home to Ludington, Hamlin Township, Amber Township and Pere Marquette Township. Its power plants have 2,218 MW of capacity, 89% of it hydro, the 5th largest fleet in Michigan. Construction employs 543, up 10.1% since 2019. Unemployment was 5.7% in August 2026, against 5.1% in 2019. Employers here counted 10,162 jobs in 2025, down 1.6% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Mason County
Mason County is home to Ludington, Hamlin Township, Amber Township and Pere Marquette 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 Mason County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 29,033 | 29,040 | ● 0.0% | 49th of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,327 | 10,162 | ▼ 1.6% | 56th of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,978 | $50,074 | ▲ 22.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 493 | 543 | ▲ 10.1% | 43rd of 69 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.1% | 5.7% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Mason 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. 29,040 people live here, up 0.0% since 2020.
Who powers Mason County
Utilities with service territory in Mason 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.
Operating power plants 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 1,979 MW | 89% |
| Natural gas | 138 MW | 6% |
| Wind | 101 MW | 5% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludington | Consumers Energy Co - (MI) | Hydro | 1,979 MW | 1973 |
| Michigan Power LP | Michigan Power Limited Partnership | Natural gas | 138 MW | 1995 |
| Lake Winds Energy Park | Consumers Energy Co - (MI) | Wind | 101 MW | 2012 |
The Mason County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,162 | $50,074 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 543 | $60,249 | 1.01 |
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 Mason County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Mason County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Mason County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Mason County, Oceana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County | 29,040 | ▼ 1.6% | 2,218 MW | — | — | — |
| Lake County | 13,182 | ▼ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Manistee County | 25,656 | ▲ 3.7% | 110 MW | — | — | — |
| Newaygo County | 51,622 | ▼ 2.4% | 46 MW | — | — | — |
| Oceana County | 27,177 | ▼ 4.6% | 5 MW | 120 MW | — | — |
More of Michigan
Mason County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Mason County, Michigan?
3 utilities have service territory in Mason 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.
What power plants are in Mason County?
3 operating plants with 2,218 MW of capacity. The largest is Ludington (1,979 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Mason County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Mason County.
Is Mason County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,162 jobs in 2025 against 10,327 in 2019 (-1.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 493 to 543.
Does Mason County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Mason County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.