Man from Colorado in the Hot Seat

John A. Love thinks of his new job as head of President Nixon's Energy Policy Office as "the hottest seat in the nation." He took it, he says, because "it is a policy and management job, and I've had some experience in those areas."

Love, now 56 years old, grew up in Colorado, getting his B.A. and law degree from the University of Denver. After serving in World War II, he settled down as an attorney in Colorado Springs. Big (6 ft. 3 in.), he astonished everyone in 1962 by entering the gubernatorial race with no prior political experience--and winning. He has held the office ever since, serving longer than any other Colorado Governor.

Love has earned a reputation as a moderate, a negotiator rather than a strongman--which leaves him open to charges of indecisiveness. Still, negotiating skills will surely prove useful in balancing the different requirements of energy industries, foreign suppliers and the public. In an interview with TIME Correspondent John Wilhelm last week, Love was quick to admit that 'Tm no energy expert." He will depend on Charles DiBona, the White House's energy specialist, who will be his chief assistant. Some of Love's other comments:

ON THE ENERGY CRISIS: "It's just beginning. We're going to be living with it for a long time."

ON NEW ENERGY SOURCES: "There is no panacea. We have to start with coal certainly, because it is foremost in supplies and availability. After that?

The lead time in developing other sources is so great, the capital requirements are so great--conceivably the combination of solar technology, geothermal and maybe even hydrogen fusion will be the answer."

ON CHANGING LIFESTYLES: "We don't want to lose our nerve and give up and say we've come to the point in man's history where we're simply going to have to abandon what we've been doing. If it comes to that, I think we ought to go down trying."

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