ITC Recognized For Environmental Initiatives

NOVI, Mich., Nov. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ITC Holdings Corp. received two major environmental awards at the 2018 Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Conservation Conference held Nov. 13-14 in Baltimore.

ITC Midwest earned the 2018 WHC Green Infrastructure Project Award for its rain garden project at the company's Iowa City, Iowa warehouse.  The award recognizes a corporate infrastructure project with multiple features that have a direct impact on surrounding biodiversity.  ITC constructed the rain garden in 2011, and today it is considered a model of storm water quality management. The rain garden is designed with plants and loose fill to absorb approximately 4,000 gallons of precipitation runoff in each precipitation event.  This and two other ITC rain garden sites in Michigan feature interpretive signage, and employees participate in monitoring and maintenance of the rain gardens to document plant health and the presence of wildlife.

ITC Michigan earned the 2018 WHC Training Project Award for its transmission line right-of-way at Tomlinson Arboretum in Clinton Township, Mich.  The award recognizes habitat or species projects which meet a need identified by an external group, company or community group based on study or other information.  ITC began a native plant seeding project in the transmission corridor in 2012 after discovering the turf grass growing under the line was not supportive of local wildlife.  ITC selected two native prairie mixes for their attractiveness to wildlife and eventual height of the mature plants. These species of shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers today provide food and cover for native species including butterflies, bees, songbirds, rabbits, groundhogs and white-tailed deer – while keeping the power line untouched by high growth.  ITC continues to monitor environmental conditions in the corridor.

In addition to the two awards, ITC received three continued certifications from WHC Conservation Certification^® for environmental projects in Michigan and Iowa.  ITC holds 12 other program certifications in these states, which will be reviewed for continued certification in the coming years.  In total, the company has 15 WHC-certified programs.

These and other ITC efforts fall under the company's ISO 14001-based environmental management system, which focuses on environmental sustainability in ITC facilities as well as in the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of its electricity transmission systems.

"We take pride in being a good neighbor, and environmental stewardship is an important part of our contributions to the well-being of the communities we serve," said Jon Jipping, ITC's chief operating officer. "That stewardship extends from environmentally-friendly practices in our offices and warehouses to our work in the field to build and maintain electricity transmission infrastructure."

Wildlife Habitat Council works with corporations, conservation groups and communities to create habitat and increase biodiversity.  "ITC is an environmental leader, voluntarily managing its lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them," said Margaret O'Gorman, president, Wildlife Habitat Council. "As one of our more active members, ITC's 15 WHC-certified programs demonstrate how a company's commitment to the environment, employee engagement and community relations results in successful conservation projects and programs."

The three continued WHC-certified programs for ITC projects in Michigan and Iowa include:

ITC Michigan:

• ITC Headquarters in Novi, Oakland County, Mich. – first certified in 2010
• Tomlinson Arboretum in Clinton Township, Macomb County, Mich. – first certified in 2014

ITC Midwest

• Iowa City Warehouse in Johnson County, Iowa – first certified in 2013

ITC holds 12 other program certifications in Michigan and Iowa, which will be reviewed for continued certification in the coming years:

ITC Michigan:

• Chippewa Nature Center Corridor in Midland County, Mich. – certified in 2012, recertified in 2014
• Belleville Warehouse in Wayne County, Mich. – certified in 2014, recertified in 2016
• Wayland Warehouse in Allegan County, Mich. – certified in 2014, recertified in 2016
• Stony Creek Metropark Corridor in Macomb County, Mich. – certified in 2009, recertified in 2011, 2014 and 2017
• Sterling State Park Corridor in Monroe County, Mich. – certified in 2015, recertified in 2017
• Wolcott Mill Metropark Corridor in Macomb County, Mich. – certified in 2010, recertified in 2012, 2014 and 2017
• Sand Point Nature Preserve in Huron County, Mich. – certified in 2013, recertified in 2015 and 2017
• Crow Island State Game Area in Saginaw County, Mich. – certified in 2013, recertified in 2015 and 2017

ITC Midwest:

• Beverly Park in Linn County, Iowa – certified in 2015, recertified in 2017
• Squaw Creek Park in Linn County, Iowa – certified in 2015, recertified in 2017
• Sac and Fox Trail in Linn County, Iowa – certified in 2015, recertified in 2017
• McLoud Run Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – certified in 2017

About ITC Holdings Corp.
ITC is the largest independent electricity transmission company in the United States. Based in Novi, Michigan, ITC invests in the electric transmission grid to improve reliability, expand access to markets, allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems and lower the overall cost of delivered energy. Through its regulated operating subsidiaries ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains, ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission infrastructure in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and in development in Wisconsin. These systems serve a combined peak load exceeding 26,000 megawatts along approximately 15,800 circuit miles of transmission line, supported by 700 employees and nearly 1,000 contractors across our expanding footprint. 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 further information visit www.itc-holdings.com. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.

About ITC Michigan
ITC Holdings Corp., the nation's largest independent electricity transmission company based in Novi, Michigan, owns and operates two subsidiaries in the state: ITCTransmission and METC (collectively, ITC Michigan). The two systems comprise approximately 8,700 circuit miles of transmission line serving most of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

About ITC Midwest
ITC Midwest LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation's largest independent electricity transmission company. ITC Midwest operates more than 6,600 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, and holds utility status in Wisconsin. ITC Midwest is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and maintains regional operating facilities in Dubuque, Iowa City and Perry, Iowa; and Albert Lea and Lakefield, Minnesota.

About the Wildlife Habitat Council
Wildlife Habitat Council partners with corporations, fellow conservation organizations, government agencies and community members to empower and recognize wildlife habitat and conservation education programs. Our members are environmental leaders at local, national and global levels, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them. Since 1988, WHC has certified more than 1,000 habitat and education programs worldwide; WHC Conservation Certification programs can be found in 47 states and 28 countries. To learn more, visit www.wildlifehc.org or follow @WildlifeHC on Twitter.

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SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp.