Oscoda County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Big Creek Township, Comins Township and Greenwood Township
Oscoda 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. Oscoda County is home to Big Creek Township, Comins Township, Greenwood Township and Elmer Township. Unemployment was 8.6% in August 2026, against 6.5% in 2019. Employers here counted 1,363 jobs in 2025, down 17.3% from 2019. 10 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 15 MW of capacity, 67% of it solar.
Cities and towns in Oscoda County
Oscoda County is home to Big Creek Township, Comins Township, Greenwood Township and Elmer Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Mio.
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 Oscoda County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 8,230 | 8,723 | ▲ 6.0% | 77th of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,649 | 1,363 | ▼ 17.3% | 83rd of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,847 | $40,849 | ▲ 24.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.5% | 8.6% | ▲ 2.1pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 10 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Oscoda 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. 8,723 people live here, up 6.0% since 2020.
Who powers Oscoda County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +10 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Oscoda 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% |
| Presque Isle Elec & Gas Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 32,446 | 20.99¢ | 16% |
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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 10 MW | 67% |
| Hydro | 5 MW | 33% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightfoot Solar, LLC | Lightfoot Solar, LLC | Solar | 10 MW | 2023 |
| Mio | Consumers Energy Co - (MI) | Hydro | 5 MW | 1916 |
The Oscoda County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,363 | $40,849 | 1.00 |
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 Oscoda County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Oscoda County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Oscoda County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Oscoda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oscoda County | 8,723 | ▼ 17.3% | 15 MW | — | — | — |
| Alcona County | 10,556 | ▼ 16.7% | 28 MW | — | — | — |
| Alpena County | 28,853 | ▲ 7.6% | 54 MW | — | — | — |
| Crawford County | 13,722 | ▼ 3.2% | 39 MW | — | — | — |
| Iosco County | 25,266 | ▼ 3.7% | 28 MW | — | — | — |
| Montmorency County | 9,842 | ▲ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Ogemaw County | 21,121 | ▲ 7.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Otsego County | 26,080 | ▲ 2.9% | 694 MW | — | — | — |
| Roscommon County | 23,914 | ▲ 12.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of Michigan
Oscoda County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Oscoda County, Michigan?
3 utilities have service territory in Oscoda County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Consumers Energy Co - (MI), Great Lakes Energy Coop, Presque Isle Elec & Gas Coop. The largest, Consumers Energy Co - (MI), charged residential customers 19.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Oscoda County?
2 operating plants with 15 MW of capacity. The largest is Lightfoot Solar, LLC (10 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Oscoda County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Oscoda County.
Is Oscoda County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,363 jobs in 2025 against 1,649 in 2019 (-17.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Oscoda County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Oscoda County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.