American Transmission Co. projects

Project website for a Wisconsin-based company that owns and operates the high-voltage electric transmission system that powers communities in portions of the Upper Midwest.

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Helicopter, air saw to be used for tree trimming in Manitowoc, Brown, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac counties

Aerial work scheduled to begin late February or early March 

PEWAUKEE, Wis. – A helicopter and heavy-duty air saw will be used beginning the last week of February or early March to trim trees along transmission lines in eastern Wisconsin.

American Transmission Co. has contracted with Aerial Solutions, Inc., a company that specializes in aerial tree management along transmission line corridors. The helicopters are equipped with heavy-duty air saws with rotary blades suspended on a 90-foot vertical boom. In some areas, ground crews will be performing additional vegetation removal work this year.

“We’ll be using the helicopter and air saw to side trim trees at the edge of the right-of-way,” said Ben Gura, ATC senior vegetation management specialist. “This work will help us ensure the safe and reliable operation of the electric system.” 

Tree trimming will occur along a 345,000-volt line that runs from the Point Beach Nuclear Plant in northeastern Manitowoc County, Wis., west across southern Brown County to west of Wrightstown, Wis. Trees also will be trimmed along a 345-kV line that extends from Sheboygan, Wis., southwest of Fond du Lac, Wis. Because the work is weather-dependent, flight schedules will vary and may extend later into March.

Managing the growth of trees and other vegetation is crucial to helping ensure public safety and electric system reliability. ATC performs routine vegetation management on its 9,480 miles of transmission lines in five-year cycles.

Note to editors: A video of similar aerial vegetation management work is available on our YouTube channel.

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ATC is a Wisconsin-based company that moves energy along the regional electric grid in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, serving more than 5 million electric consumers. We are experts at what we do: planning, maintaining, operating and protecting the grid. As the electric industry moves toward renewable generation sources, we are transforming our system to continue delivering energy reliably and safely. We proudly support STEM education programs that empower youth with the skills needed to succeed in tomorrow’s energy workforce. For more information, visit www.atcllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).