ITC Holdings Receives International Habitat Conservation Award
December 01 2009 - 11:45AM
PR Newswire (US)
NOVI, Mich., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ITC Holdings Corp.
(NYSE: ITC) today announced it received international recognition
for the company's contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at
the Wildlife Habitat Council's (WHC) 21st Annual Symposium,
Evergreen: A Celebration of Conservation in a Changing World. ITC
demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship and
increasing native biodiversity by achieving Wildlife at Work(SM)
certification at the ITC transmission corridor at Stony Creek
Metropark in Shelby Township, Michigan. "The Wildlife Habitat
Council believes that collaboration among all stakeholder groups is
critical to addressing the complex issues facing the sustainability
of the planet," said Robert Johnson, WHC president. "WHC members
take a leading role in connecting community stakeholders through
wildlife habitat enhancement, community outreach and conservation
education. Congratulations to ITC for its commitment to a healthy
natural world and connected communities." Stony Creek Metropark,
located in the Metro Detroit area, occupies more than 4,000 acres
and serves as a multi-use recreation park with a nature center and
more than 30 miles of trails. ITC's high-voltage transmission line
corridor occupies 25 acres across the northern portion of the park,
of which 20 acres are actively managed for wildlife. A prominent
feature of the wildlife program is the removal of invasive woody
and herbaceous species. A number of tall trees growing under the
electric conductors that could have interrupted electrical service
were removed along with several species of invasive brush and
shrubs. Trees selected for girdling were retained as snags, and
woody debris collected from plant removal was placed along the
transmission corridor to provide cover for wildlife. Prescribed
burning was conducted by Metropark staff to maintain low-growing
prairie vegetation within and around the corridor. To support its
educational goals, native trees and shrubs were planted near the
nature center to create a demonstration arboretum, and interpretive
signs were designed to educate visitors about the ecosystem and its
management. Michael McNulty, environmental manager for ITC, said
the updates are both esthetically pleasing and environmentally
friendly. "The project is a win-win situation for the community and
the local habitat," McNulty said. "Our partnership with the
Metroparks and WHC resulted in a safer environment that is also
beneficial to native wildlife. In fact, a professional botanist who
examined the site determined that more than 40 species of plants
native to Michigan have naturally germinated as a result of this
project, providing food and cover for various mammals, birds,
turtles and pollinator species." The ITC transmission corridor at
Stony Creek Metropark was one of 238 sites recognized at the 2009
Symposium for creating a Wildlife at Work program. In addition, 47
Corporate Lands for Learning(SM) (CLL) programs were recognized,
reaching thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to
master gardeners and university researchers. Since 1990, WHC has
certified 560 Wildlife at Work and 113 CLL programs worldwide. The
certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat
management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites,
and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs.
Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply
for periodic renewal. About Wildlife Habitat Council The Wildlife
Habitat Council (WHC) is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization
dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat
on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources
to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups
to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth
with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable
environment. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation
education programs are found in 48 states, the District of Columbia
and nine other countries. To learn more, visit
http://www.wildlifehc.org/. About ITC Holdings Corp. ITC Holdings
Corp. (NYSE:ITC) invests in the electricity transmission grid to
improve electric reliability, improve access to markets, and lower
the overall cost of delivered energy. ITC is the largest
independent electricity transmission company in the country.
Through its subsidiaries, ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric
Transmission Company (METC) and ITC Midwest, ITC operates
contiguous, regulated, high-voltage transmission systems in
Michigan's Lower Peninsula and portions of Iowa, Minnesota,
Illinois and Missouri, serving a combined peak load in excess of
25,000 megawatts. ITC is also focused on new areas where
significant transmission system improvements are needed through
subsidiaries ITC Grid Development, ITC Great Plains and ITC
Panhandle Transmission. For more information, please visit:
http://www.itctransco.com/ (itc-ITC). DATASOURCE: ITC Holdings
Corp.; Wildlife Habitat Council CONTACT: Brad Cardwell, Wildlife
Habitat Council, +1-240-247-0930, ; or Robert J. Darmanin, ITC
Holdings Corp., +1-248-946-3493, Web Site:
http://www.itctransco.com/
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