Washington, D.C. Government 100 Percent Wind Powered

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington schools, firehouses, police stations and city offices are now 100 percent wind powered.

District officials announced the new agreement Monday at a renewable energy conference. Sam Brooks, the head of Washington's Energy and Sustainability Division, says the district buys about $52 million of electricity each year. That's enough to power about 90,000 homes.

The district has been buying cleaner wind power for about half of its electricity needs since 2009. Brooks says the district lowered the amount it pays for wind power in the new contract. While wind power is more expensive, the total should be less than $100,000 more than the previous contract.

Brooks says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also recognized the district on Monday as one of two winners of its Green Power Community Challenge.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)