Silver City Town Manager Alex Brown holds the 2016 New Mexico Energy Manager of the Year Award, presented by the New Mexico Association of Energy Engineers. (Courtesy Photo)

Brown Recognized for Silver City's Solar Powered Wastewater Treatment Plant and Radio-Read Water Meters

Alex Brown, Silver City town manager and finance director, was named the 2016 Energy Manager of the Year by the New Mexico Association of Energy Engineers (NMAEE). Brown was recognized for Silver City's solar-powered wastewater treatment plant and the installation this year of radio-read water meters.

Mary Ann Ulik, NMAEE board member, praised Brown for these projects, calling them energy-saving and innovative.

"The NM Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers is pleased to recognize Alex Brown for his accomplishments in developing the solar array at the Silver City Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the installation of radio read water meters," Ulik said. "This shows his commitment to saving energy and money for the town and its residents, and his ability for innovation. Moreover, Alex is not an energy engineer, making his resourcefulness even more remarkable. We are very pleased to have met Alex, and to name him Energy Manager of the Year.Gǥ

The solar array at Silver City's wastewater treatment plant saves the town approximately $70,000 each year, for a total of $210,000 to date since its installation in 2014, said Brown, adding that the annual savings increase each time PNM raises its rates, given that the town secured a 20-year fixed rate as part of the project.
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