ATC

ATC awards $56,000 to 27 communities for planting projects

Community Planting Program recognizes communities for vegetation projects that help keep transmission lines safe and reliable

PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. has awarded $56,000 collectively to 27 communities across its service area for the purpose of planting trees and other vegetation through its Community Planting Program. Vegetation funded through this program requires that communities plant trees outside of high-voltage transmission line rights-of-way, helping to keep the electric transmission lines safe and reliable.

“Now in its fifth year, the Community Planting Program has awarded nearly $300,000 to more than 175 communities for planting projects,” said Mark Davis, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “This is an initiative that we continue to be proud of because ATC is committed to helping sustain the environment that we all share. These communities also demonstrate their commitment to helping us keep the lights on by planting tall-growing vegetation a safe distance from transmission lines.”

In addition, recipients of the Community Planting Program commit to comply with ATC’s maintenance standards for all current and future planting plans and urban forestry activities near high-voltage electric transmission lines. The following Wisconsin communities received amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000 for planting projects on public property. Villages of Friendship and Somers received funding to support pollinator planting projects, as part of ATC’s pollinator initiative:

The Community Planting Program is part of ATC’s Grow Smart program, which advocates for and provides suggestions of low-growing, compatible vegetation that can be planted in transmission line rights-of-way. ATC will accept applications again for the Community Planting Program from June 1 through Sept. 30, 2018.

Milwaukee Bucks and ATC bring back Trees for Threes initiative for 2017-18 season

The Milwaukee Bucks and American Transmission Co. are bringing back their “Trees for Threes” initiative for the 2017-18 Milwaukee Bucks season. Through the Trees for Threes platform, the Bucks and ATC will sponsor the planting of a new tree in Wisconsin for every 3-pointer the Bucks make at home this season. Last season, the Bucks made 355 threes at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, resulting in 355 trees being planted across Wisconsin. 

New to this year’s Trees for Threes campaign is the opportunity for schools in Wisconsin to register to receive trees to be planted at their school. Schools interested in signing up may do so from Oct. 20, 2017, through April 9, 2018, on ATC’s registration page.

 “We’re incredibly excited to partner with the Bucks again this season,” said ATC’s Director of Corporate Communications Anne Spaltholz. “The more 3-pointers the Bucks score at home, the more trees go in the ground. By the end of the season, it’ll be a big win for Wisconsin schools.”

 For more information on the Trees for Threes initiative, including a running tally of how many 3-pointers the Bucks have made at home this season, log on to www.bucks.com/trees.

American Transmission Co. named to 2017 Best Medium Workplaces list

Employees put company on the list for fourth year in a row

Pewaukee, Wis. – At American Transmission Co. our growth wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our employees. We’re proud of our team, and we’re also excited to announce our organization has been named one of the 2017 Best Small & Medium Workplaces by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE. Thanks to our employees, ATC has made the list every year since 2014.

This ranking considered 74,000 surveys from employees at hundreds of businesses in all sectors of the economy. ATC earned a spot on this list based on employees’ assessment of the camaraderie, leadership, fairness, rewards and career opportunities enjoyed in their workplace.

“ATC is successful in the electric transmission industry because we challenge ourselves to be innovative. Our workplace culture is no different. We support employee growth by encouraging development and strive to make it a place where people want to stay,” said Mike Rowe, President and CEO of ATC.

Outstanding small and mid-sized employers – as identified by their employees – are substantially more likely to report work experiences linked to retention, innovation and good customer service, according to research by Great Place to Work. The winning organizations also are more likely to maintain a healthy organizational culture as they grow larger and more complex.

“The Best Small & Medium workplaces are laying the groundwork for future success by building trust, cooperation and leadership credibility. All of these enhance business performance and create a positive environment for doing business,” said Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work.

The Best Small & Medium Workplaces is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE based on research into employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified™ organizations. ATC has ranked as a Best Workplace since 2014, and as a Best Workplace to Retire From, Best Workplace for Giving Back and Best Workplace in Manufacturing and Production by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE.

Portion of Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project located in Dane County energized

MADISON, Wis. – The portion of the Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project connecting the Cardinal Substation in the Town of Middleton to the North Madison Substation in the Town of Vienna has been energized.

While this 20-mile segment is complete and now moving electricity, the portion of the project between the North Madison Substation and the Briggs Road Substation in the La Crosse area is still under construction.

This 180-mile, 345,000-volt transmission line was approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in April 2015 and is expected to be in service by late 2018. The project will help ensure reliable electricity for the region and provide access to lower-cost power and renewable energy.

“We appreciate the cooperation of area residents as we completed work on this portion of the project,” said American Transmission Co. Senior Local Relations Representative Lee Meyerhofer. “We will continue our commitment to keeping the public informed, constructing the line in a safe and efficient manner, and protecting the environment.”

Project maps and additional information are available at www.badgercoulee.com.

American Transmission Co. issues 2017 10-Year Transmission System Assessment

Capital expenditure of $2.8 billion to $3.6 billion is lower than recent years

PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co.’s 10-year plan for electric grid improvements calls for a mix of new construction and continued asset maintenance to maintain the company’s top performance in operations.

“Our long-range planning efforts assure the reliability that our customers depend on,” said Ron Snead, vice president of system planning. “The expenditures in this year’s 10-Year Transmission System Assessment are reduced from recent years, reflecting the measures ATC has taken to improve electric reliability.”

Specifically, the plan calls for expenditures of $1.4 billion in asset maintenance, $0.48 billion in regional Multi-Value Projects, between $0.7 billion and $1 billion in network projects and between $0.3 billion and $0.8 billion in other capital expenditures.

Asset renewal has played a key role in operating performance. “We achieved top quartile or better reliability performance in 2016 for our transmission network,” said John McNamara, vice president of asset management. “Maintaining a reliable transmission system in a cost-effective manner is core to our business and supports our customers.”

The full plan is available for viewing at ATC10YearPlan.