The National Academy of Engineering considers electrification among the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century, and I have to agree– thanks to our electric grid, we effortlessly flip a light switch, and power goes on in less than a second. This speed is faster than any delivery service could ever hope to achieve.
More than ever before, we’re transitioning to an electrified society. Businesses from data centers to farms to assembly lines are counting on more power to feed their operations. Today’s needs are placing new demands on a grid that wasn’t designed for them, all while current sources of power generation are changing. We’re used to upgrades in our society –our phones, our cars, our houses. Just like in our personal lives, we achieve more as a society and, in turn, expect more. We need updated transmission lines to keep up with our needs and expectations.
ITC, based in Novi, Michigan, is the nation’s largest independent electric transmission company. Our high-voltage grid transmits power from generation sources to your local distribution company that feeds electricity into homes and businesses. As the state continues to transition to a more diverse energy portfolio, ITC is working to bolster Michigan’s transmission capacity to ensure the grid can effectively handle the changes. In addition to upgrading existing infrastructure, we are also building new transmission lines to ensure ongoing reliability. Different types of generation are often located where their resources are most abundant – whether that’s near fuel transportation networks, along rivers, or in areas with strong natural resources. A robust transmission system allows us to deliver electricity from these optimal generation locations to where it’s needed most.
At ITC, we recognize transmission is essential to our future goals and are focused solely on building, maintaining and updating our region’s transmission system. We own and operate transmission infrastructure in eight midwestern states; in Michigan alone, we have more than 9,000 circuit miles of high-voltage electric lines and nearly 400 transmission substations throughout the lower peninsula.
Transmission lines are the foundation for our country’s economy, security and way of life. The best way to reach our electric goals is through proactive planning and construction to create a complete and modern grid for ourselves and future generations. Just as we make upgrades in our personal lives, we must support new and improved electric infrastructure to meet our energy goals and keep the lights on for future generations.
