The Silver City, New Mexico, wastewater treatment plant will see its 1 megawatt (MW) solar array come online this spring. Affordable Solar, the project owner, began the installation of 4,000 solar panels on the six acre site in December 2012. Silver City has entered into power purchase agreement with Affordable Solar to buy the generated electricity at 6.9 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The 20-year agreement prevents price increases and offers a lower rate than the 10.5 cents per kWh Silver City is currently paying Public Service Company of New Mexico. The less expensive rate is due, in part, to the tax credits available to Affordable Solar; those savings are then passed along to Silver City.

News Release - New solar array will save Silver City millions over next two decades