Osceola County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Reed City, Hersey Township and Evart
Osceola 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. Construction employs 918, up 55.6% since 2019, and construction is 2.2 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Osceola County is home to Reed City, Hersey Township, Evart and Richmond Township. 2 MW has retired here since 2019, including Cargill Salt Hersey (natural gas, 2 MW, 2025). Employers here counted 7,692 jobs in 2025, up 5.9% from 2019. Its power plants have 51 MW of capacity, 98% of it natural gas.
Cities and towns in Osceola County
Osceola County is home to Reed City, Hersey Township, Evart and Richmond 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 Osceola County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 22,906 | 23,516 | ▲ 2.7% | 61st of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,265 | 7,692 | ▲ 5.9% | 20th of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $46,264 | $58,595 | ▲ 26.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 590 | 918 | ▲ 55.6% | 3rd of 69 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.8% | 5.2% | ▲ 0.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 2 MW | — |
Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Osceola 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. Unemployment was 5.2% in August 2026, against 4.8% in 2019. 23,516 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Osceola County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: −2 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Osceola 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.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 50 MW | 98% |
| Petroleum | 1 MW | 2% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Johnson | Wolverine Power Supply Coop | Natural gas | 51 MW | 1993 |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargill Salt Hersey | Natural gas | 2 MW | 2025 |
The Osceola County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,692 | $58,595 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 918 | $99,989 | 2.25 |
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 Osceola County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Osceola County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Osceola County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Osceola County, Isabella 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola County | 23,516 | ▲ 5.9% | 51 MW | — | — | — |
| Clare County | 31,543 | ▲ 16.3% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Isabella County | 64,691 | ▼ 6.0% | 722 MW | — | — | — |
| Lake County | 13,182 | ▼ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Mecosta County | 42,320 | ▼ 7.4% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
| Missaukee County | 15,274 | ▲ 23.2% | 86 MW | — | — | — |
| Newaygo County | 51,622 | ▼ 2.4% | 46 MW | — | — | — |
| Wexford County | 34,445 | ▼ 7.2% | 61 MW | — | — | — |
More of Michigan
Osceola County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Osceola County, Michigan?
4 utilities have service territory in Osceola 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.
What power plants are in Osceola County?
1 operating plant with 51 MW of capacity. The largest is George Johnson (51 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in Osceola County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Osceola County.
Is Osceola County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,692 jobs in 2025 against 7,265 in 2019 (+5.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 590 to 918.
Does Osceola County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Osceola County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.