Consumers Energy Acquires 800 Acres from Todd Greiner Farms in Michigan Auction

OCEANA COUNTY, MI – Consumers Energy has purchased 800 acres of farmland in Hart, Michigan, previously owned by Todd Greiner Farms, for $5.6 million in an auction held this past weekend.

Tracy Wimmer, spokesperson for Consumers Energy, confirmed the transaction but did not disclose the future use of the land. “At this point, we’re still determining potential future uses,” Wimmer noted. “Once we have more information and details about that and figure what makes sense with the land, that’s when we’ll move forward.”

The auction was part of Todd Greiner Farms’ transition from a family-owned operation that traditionally grew sweet and tart cherries, apples, and vegetables. The farm, which has been in operation for 30 years, is now focusing on marketing and selling produce sourced from other Michigan growers.

One possibility for the land is to convert it into large-scale solar infrastructure. Consumers Energy has been actively developing solar farms in various Michigan counties, including Kent, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Jackson, and Calhoun. Currently, the utility is constructing a solar farm at Muskegon County’s wastewater plant in Moorland Township. This facility is projected to generate 250 megawatts of solar power, enough to energize about 40,000 homes when fully operational by 2026.

“Our long-term goal is to have 8,000 megawatts of solar energy in our sources by 2040,” said Wimmer. In 2020, renewable energy comprised about 11% of Consumers Energy’s total energy intake, which includes both solar and wind sources. The company aims to increase this figure, targeting 63% renewables as the primary energy source by 2040.

In addition to the farmland auction, a second auction was conducted featuring a substantial array of farm equipment, including over 30 tractors and more than 30 trucks and trailers. This event attracted significant attention from local buyers in search of farm machinery.

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