How Utilities Can Take Care of the Environment
PR Newswire, NOVI, Mich., September 25, 2015
More than ever, consumers expect companies to be socially responsible, which includes being good stewards of the environment. But look at the network of power lines, towers and substations that we rely on for electricity: Is there room for these companies to be environmentally friendly?
Managing our country’s power grid carries far-ranging environmental responsibility, says Linda Blair, chief business officer for ITC, the largest independent electricity transmission company in the U.S. “Unlike many other industries, utility companies operate mainly in nature. We must deliver safe and reliable power, yes, but in a way that helps protect land, water and species. With a proper and responsible approach, this can be done.”
Beyond the host of environmental rules that utilities observe when planning, building and maintaining power lines, these companies often can find creative opportunities to do good for the land beyond the main task at hand, Blair says.
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Power poles recycled for wildlife
When a utility needs to rebuild an old, dated section of power line, the wood poles can be reused as wildlife habitat. ITC donated 10 cedar poles from decommissioned power structures in 2015 to the Iowa Department of Transportation to support bat houses serving the habitat of the Indiana Long-Eared Bat, a federally endangered species. Decommissioned ITC power poles also went toward the construction of two osprey nest platforms in the Huron River watershed in Ann Arbor, Mich. in 2015.
“Responsible management of plants and trees under and around transmission corridors can accomplish more than the main objective of maintaining safe and reliable electric service,” Blair says. “This work can result in diverse, stable, natural greenways, with less environmental disturbance.” For example, in 2010, ITC began partnering with Stony Creek Metropark, a 4,500–acre multi-use recreational park north of Detroit, to manage wildlife habitat in ITC’s transmission corridor passing through the park. This includes removing invasive plant species and reestablishing and seeding native prairie grasses and wildflowers. “This park is heavily used, so environmental sustainability is a continuing focus for us,” says George Phifer, Director of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. “We appreciate ITC’s hands-on, partnership approach toward maintaining the natural beauty and biodiversity of its transmission corridor.”
Oasis under the power lines
Michigan as a whole is dealing with a declining natural feature: Lakeplain prairie lands. ITC began working with The Nature Conservancy in 2013 in a multi-year effort to restore these lands in southeast Michigan, including some found along ITC transmission line corridors. Restoration involves eliminating invasive plant species that crowd out the original prairie. This effort helps restore ecosystem functions, improve and increase habitat for rare insects, plants and animals and increase flora and fauna diversity.
Few industries operate as close to nature as utilities, so we're ideally positioned to be environmental stewards: https://prn.to/1OXdLcU Tweet
To help Iowa address its own decline of native prairie lands, ITC over-seeded three electric transmission line corridors in the Cedar Rapids area in 2014, covering about 42 acres. The plantings feature native grasses, wildflowers and broadleaf native plants. Well-established prairie grasses will help prevent various types of invasive trees from taking root and potentially growing into the power lines.
Employees as catalysts
These activities start at home for ITC. Within the company’s facilities, a volunteer group of employees called the Green Team helps implement environmentally friendly practices. The team reviews everything from recycling programs to reducing energy consumption in ITC buildings with a goal of achieving zero landfill waste.
Electric utilities are charged with keeping the lights on, but they can do more, Blair says. “Few companies and industries operate as close to the landscape as we utilities do, so this industry is ideally positioned to partner and contribute to environmental sustainability – while still keeping the power flowing,” said Blair.
About ITC Holdings Corp.
ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) is the nation’s largest independent electric transmission company. Based in Novi, Michigan, ITC invests in the electric transmission grid to improve reliability, expand access to markets, lower the overall cost of delivered energy and allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems. Through its regulated operating subsidiaries ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains, ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission facilities in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, serving a combined peak load exceeding 26,000 megawatts along approximately 15,600 circuit miles of transmission line. ITC’s grid development focus includes growth through regulated infrastructure investment as well as domestic and international expansion through merchant and other commercial development opportunities. For more information, please visit ITC’s website at www.itc-holdings.com.
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Media contacts:
National: Bob Doetsch 248-946-3493 [email protected]
Michigan: Kelly Fulford 248-946-3491 [email protected]
Iowa/Minnesota: Tom Petersen 319-297-6793 [email protected]
Kansas/Oklahoma: Liz Hunt 405-536-0068 [email protected]