In response to the flooding in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in mid-May, ATC initiated the National Capacitor Bank Project. It was designed to allow 50 Mw of load to be used at the mine after the Presque Isle Power Plant began generation again.

The project consisted of moving an out-of-service 138kV capacitor bank from Forest Junction to the National Substation in Ishpeming. From groundbreaking to in-service, and despite six days of soaking rains, the project took only 16 days. The capacitor bank was energized on June 13, 2003.

The project's original purpose was to assist moving electricity to the mine, but other benefits now have become apparent. The permanent installation of the capacitor bank will contribute to the stabilization of the area, offer more operator control, and reduce the potential for a voltage collapse in the U.P.

Ken Jauquet, ATC project manager, comented that "commendations are due all around for a great job. Great teamwork and dedicated effort on the part of ATC staff, Black and Veatch, MJ Electric, Coleman Engineering, and We Energies made completion of this project in an extremely short timeframe possible."