Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson recently announced the largest commitment ever to purchase electricity generated by wind power. Regional offices of Federal government agencies located along the Colorado Front Range-including Western's Corporate Services Office in Lakewood-have committed to purchase more than 10 megawatts of electricity generated by wind turbines. That's enough wind power to meet the electricity needs of more than 3,500 average size homes in Colorado.

"The increasing use of renewable energy sources such as wind power holds the promise of enhancing our energy security and protecting the environment," said Secretary Richardson. "Federal agencies in Colorado are setting an example for the rest of the nation."

Over the next several years, 30 Federal agencies will participate in the Energy Department-coordinated effort to purchase 10 megawatts of wind power through Public Service of Colorado's Windsource Program, and through other local utilities' wind energy programs. Participating Federal agencies will pay a small premium for each 100-kilowatthour block of wind-generated electricity purchased.

The agencies will work through the Energy Department and with Public Service of Colorado to improve energy efficiency in the agency's facilities and use the savings to purchase the wind power.

The Denver Federal Executive Board, a group including government agencies in the Denver area, organized the purchase by soliciting agencies to participate in the Windsource program. Secretary Richardson was joined for the announcement by Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and several hundred Federal government employees.

Secretary Richardson has directed the Energy Department to purchase a portion of its electricity from renewable energy sources. The department will buy 3 percent of its total electricity needs from non-hydro renewable energy sources by 2005, and 7.5 percent of its total electricity purchases from green power by 2010.

The announcement also supports the department's Wind Powering America goals calling for Federal purchase of wind-generated power. These wind-related activities are significant steps in responding to President Clinton's call for greening the government.

Daylight savings time!
Reducing energy use by taking advantage of natural light was the focus of a two-day workshop sponsored by Fort Collins, Colo., Light and Power. The Daylighting Workshop on April 5-6 included a field trip to Johnson Elementary School to see how daylighting technology from the1980s is performing today.