Dearborn, (March 19, 2010) – ITC Holdings Corp., (ITC) the nation’s only independent electric transmission company, donated $1 million to The Henry Ford to upgrade the institution’s aging electrical infrastructure. The donation was announced today by Patricia E. Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford, and Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO of ITC Holdings Corp.
“We are so grateful that ITC has made this extraordinary gift to The Henry Ford,” said Mooradian, in a press conference held today at The Henry Ford. “ITC is deeply committed to supporting the community they serve and we are honored to receive their support on this important project. Updating The Henry Ford’s electrical infrastructure, to support all of our venues, including Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, is absolutely vital to maintaining The Henry Ford’s mission of providing unique educational experiences to our visitors each year.”
The Henry Ford’s current electrical infrastructure, installed during construction in the late 1920s, is quite basic by today’s standards and limits the organization’s ability to transform areas of the museum floor or excel in public programming. Planned new exhibitions and visitor amenities all require dramatically improved lighting, sound and technological interface, none of which is possible without a massive electrical system upgrade.
“As the nation’s only fully independent electric transmission company, ITC supports infrastructure improvements to ensure reliable, safe electricity in our communities, businesses and cultural institutions,” said Welch. “This gift reflects ITC’s commitment to good corporate citizenship and will help The Henry Ford continue to educate and entertain visitors from Michigan and throughout the nation. At ITC, we take seriously our responsibility as a critical link to electric reliability, sustainability, community and energy independence.”
A comprehensive analysis of The Henry Ford’s existing electrical infrastructure has been completed and a “needs assessment” recommended a new 13,000 volt high-voltage distribution system. This new system will address the anticipated electrical requirements for planned and future exhibitions, programming and visitor amenity installations throughout The Henry Ford campus for years to come, while providing better protection for the museum’s visitors and priceless collections.
“We’re extremely proud and grateful to have ITC as one of our stakeholders fueling our transformation,” said Mooradian. “ITC is a company that fully embodies innovation, reliability and that ‘can-do’ spirit that we celebrate everyday at The Henry Ford.”
About The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford, in Dearborn, Michigan, is the world’s premiere history destination and a National Historic Landmark that celebrates American history and innovation. Its mission is to provide unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America’s traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation. Its purpose is to inspire people to learn from these traditions to help shape a better future. Five distinct attractions at The Henry Ford captivate more than 1.6 million visitors annually: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates 485 students a year on the institution’s campus and was founded in partnership with The Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company and Wayne County Public Schools. For more information please visit our website thehenryford.org.
About ITC Holdings Corp.
ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) invests in the electricity transmission grid to improve electric reliability, improve access to markets, and lower the overall cost of delivered energy. ITC is the largest independent electricity transmission company in the country. Through its subsidiaries, International Transmission Company d/b/a ITC Transmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC and ITC Midwest LLC, ITC operates contiguous, regulated, high-voltage transmission systems in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, serving a combined peak load in excess of 25,000 megawatts. ITC is also focused on new areas where significant transmission system improvements are needed through subsidiaries ITC Grid Development, LLC, ITC Great Plains, LLC and ITC Panhandle Transmission, LLC. For more information, please visit http://www.itc-holdings.com.
