CORNELIUS – Jimmy Brown, director of maintenance services at EnergyUnited, received a 2011 North American Pollinator Advocate Award at a ceremony in late October at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Brown was awarded for his work incorporating wildlife conservation and vegetation management into the operations of the utility. Brown was among five people from around the world who received the award.

EnergyUnited is the first utility ever to receive the award, which is given annually to promote public awareness about pollinators, like birds, bees, bats and butterflies that enable flowering plants to reproduce.

“EnergyUnited is challenged with providing safe and reliable service to members while protecting the environment for today and future generations,” Brown said. “When we use herbicides correctly, wildlife and vegetation benefit greatly.”