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ITC Gets OK For Thumb Power Line For Wind

Novi-based ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) said its ITCTransmission business unit had received approval from the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator for the Thumb Loop high-voltage electric transmission line project.

The project will serve as the backbone of a transmission system designed to deliver wind power from Michigan's Thumb area to locations where it is needed.

The proposed system consists of approximately 140 miles of double-circuit, 345,000-volt transmission lines and three new 345-kV substations forming a loop through the Thumb region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

"Today's decision by the Midwest ISO board is an important step forward as we plan the necessary transmission infrastructure to incorporate renewables on a more comprehensive basis," said Tom Vitez, vice president of planning at ITC. "We appreciate the efforts of the Midwest ISO and the stakeholders who reviewed this project and recognized that it is critical to integrating wind resources into the energy mix."

Under the provisions of Michigan's Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act (Public Act 295), ITCTransmission can now apply to the Michigan Public Service Commission for expedited siting approval of the project, which by statute is defined as a maximum of six months.

ITCTransmission was acquired from DTE Energy in February 2003.  ITCTransmission owns, operates and maintains approximately 2,700 circuit miles of transmission lines, 17,000 transmission towers and poles and 155 stations and substations in southeast Michigan serving a population of 5.1 million.

More at www.itctransco.com.

ITC Holdings invests in the electricity transmission grid to improve electric reliability, expand access to markets, lower the overall cost of delivered energy and allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems. The largest independent electricity transmission company in the country, ITC operates high-voltage transmission systems in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, serving a combined peak load in excess of 25,000 megawatts through its regulated operating subsidiaries, ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Co., ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains. ITC also focuses on new areas where significant transmission system improvements are needed through ITC Grid Development and its subsidiaries.

More at www.itc-holdings.com

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