Those of you who think Uncle Sam is full of hot air may get a kick out of the latest news from the Nation's Capital, to wit: Federal agencies with regional offices along Colorado's front range are going to buy wind. Or more precisely, power generated by wind.

In the largest commitment ever to purchase electricity generated by wind turbines, 30 agencies will participate in a Energy Department-coordinated effort to purchase 10 megawatts of wind power over the next several years. That's enough to meet the needs of more than 3,500 average size homes in the Rocky Mountain State.

Sorta gives new meaning to the John Denver classic, "Rocky Mountain High," doesn't it.

The agencies will buy their power through Colorado's Windsource program as well as from other local utilities' wind energy programs. They'll pay a small premium to buy their electricity this way, but they'll try to offset the extra cost by improving the energy efficiency of their facilities.

Besides, DoE Sec. Bill Richardson says they're setting an example for the rest of the country. "The increasing use of renewable energy sources such as wind power holds the promise of enhancing our energy security and protecting the environment," the cabinet official says.

The Colorado initiative is part of larger Energy Department program to show the way by purchasing power from numerous sources. By 2005, the agency intends to buy 3 percent of its total electricity needs from non-hydro renewable sources. And by 2010, it hopes to acquire 7.5 percent of its electricity from green power.

For the uninitiated, that's solar, wind, geothermal and biomass.

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, the Defense Department yesterday opened the first federal, full-service, multi-alternative "gas" station. Say that fast three times. Located near the Pentagon where else -- the station dispenses ethanol and compressed gas. No lines, either.

Published: May 2, 2000

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When Lew Sichelman first started writing about housing in 1969, he was the youngest real estate writer in the country. Now, 37 years later, he's one of the oldest -- and most decorated. He has been rated the top housing columnist in the country by the National Association of Realtors as well as by his peers in the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Indeed, NAREE has recognized his work on numerous occasions. One year - due to his advancing age, he can't recall which one - he earned top honors in the annual NAREE Journalism Contest in three out of the four major writing categories. It was the first time one writer has won so many NAREE awards in a single year. Known for his ability to make even the most difficult topics understandable, Sichelman also has been honored by the National Association of Home Builders and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He began providing in-depth coverage of and consumer-oriented information about housing and housing finance at the Washington Daily News, where he was real estate editor. He held that same position for nine more years at the Washington Star, which purchased the News in 1972. The Star, a so-called "writer's newspaper" which also had the misfortune of being an evening paper, was put out of its misery in 1981, and Sichelman, who had begun self-syndicating his column in 1978, decided to become a full-time columnist. Today, his column, "The Housing Scene," is distributed by United Media to newspapers throughout the country. He also is on the staff of National Mortgage News, an independent newspaper which is considered the bible of the mortgage business. And he writes for numerous other publications, including MarketWatch.com, where he answers readers questions once a week, Sports Illustrated (don't ask), RealtyTimes.com, BigBuilder and others. Sichelman is married, the father of five and grandfather of eleven.