Consumers Energy has announced developing plans for a solar array project in Alcona County.

According to a press release from Consumer’s Energy, the energy company and Gustin Solar are working with residents of Gustin and Harrisville townships in Alcona County, where the project will be built. Construction should start in mid-2026 with a goal to start operations by July 2029. Gustin Solar includes a smaller project once called Sapling Solar, which has been transferred to Consumers Energy from a developer.

Gustin Solar will generate 335 megawatts of energy, enough to power about 60,000 homes. Projects like this are part of a balanced mix of Michigan energy sources that Consumers Energy uses to reliably provide energy to nearly 2 million homes and businesses, the release stated.

“We want our customers to know they can count on us to develop new sources of energy as Michigan continues to grow,” Sri Maddipati, Consumers Energy’s president of electric supply, said in the release. “We can meet their needs with reliable energy produced right here in our state.”

“We’re grateful for the positive reception we’ve received from property owners and elected leaders in these communities,” Maddipati continued. “We are confident we will develop a project that offers benefits locally as well as serve our entire state.”

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. We are committed to delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.