NOVI – In the June 3 episode of MITech TV, we spoke with two representatives from ITC, Rachel Woodbridge, Vegetation and Transmission Line Maintenance Manager, and Seth Chicas, Senior Vegetation Management Specialist. As summer kicks into gear, Rachel and Seth discussed ITC’s year-round approach to vegetation management and their commitment to safety.
The focus of vegetation management is to maintain a safe environment surrounding transmission lines and ensure the reliability of our electric transmission grid as a whole. When trees grow too close to transmission lines, it creates the potential for electricity to travel through branches. This can cause trees to catch fire, endangering nearby people and plants. Additionally, fallen trees and limbs that contact power lines can cause outages or public safety hazards.
To stay on top of these hazards, ITC conducts bi-annual aerial patrols via helicopter. During these patrols, ITC looks at power lines rated at 100kV or higher from low altitudes to get an accurate assessment of equipment and potential issues. The transmission company also conducts foot patrols once a year to look out for any wear and tear on its infrastructure and to identify any vegetation-related hazards.
ITC’s approach to vegetation management revolves around three pillars: communicate, educate and inspect. The company has a proactive plan to provide notices to residents and communities about planned maintenance activities, and the company even makes personal contact to review the work. And, as part of its Right Tree, Right Place program, it periodically holds educational events within communities on compatible plantings in all types of settings and works with residents to help them identify the right places for trees.
ITC’s inspection team involves trained foresters and field staff who identify both appropriate and incompatible plant species, site by site. By planting native or compatible species of vegetation along its power lines, ITC ensures that no environmental harm is being caused. The company keeps a list of compatible flowers, plants and grasses that can be safely planted in specific areas around power lines.
For more information regarding ITC’s approach to vegetation management, please visit https://www.itc-holdings.com/community-impact/vegetation-management/.
