The Virginian-Pilot
©
WASHINGTON
The Pentagon on Friday unveiled plans to spend its share of the federal stimulus package, and the plans include 108 construction, renovation and other projects worth $329 million on military bases across Virginia.
The 191-page list of improvements and maintenance initiatives includes more than $200 million for facilities in Hampton Roads, among them about $70 million in runway and apron repair and repaving projects at bases in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
The largest chunk of that money, $43.6 million, was designated for use at Norfolk Naval Station; $26.2 million will be used to rebuild a runway at Oceana Naval Air Station.
Locally and across the country, the list reflects the Obama administration's emphasis on alternative energy development, with $300 million designated for energy research programs.
In Hampton Roads, the Pentagon will spend $26.1 million to install solar collectors and other equipment on base rooftops.
Other major local projects on the list include $29 million for a new roof and exterior repairs to an administration building at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, $26.1 million to modernize outpatient clinics at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, and $23.6 million for what was described as "steam plant area decentralization" at Norfolk Naval Station.
There also are smaller projects planned to spruce up some sites, such as repairs to heating and air conditioning systems at several bases, new lighting for piers at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, paving projects at Fort Eustis, and shoreline restoration at Fort Story in Virginia Beach.
The Pentagon said new hospitals at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Fort Hood, Texas, will be the largest projects financed by its share - $7.4 billion - of the stimulus package. Although the Defense Department is the largest agency in the federal government, its projects account for less than 1 percent of the $787 billion stimulus package.
Pilot writer Meghan Hoyer contributed to this report.
Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com
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Massive debt. Dems learn borrow & spend from GOP
Folks, I sure hope our elected representatives spend these billions and billions wisely. We are BORROWING this money and our children and greand children will be left to PAY OFF this massive debt. For years we suffered under tax & spend Liberal Democrats, then we suffered under years of borrow & spend Republicans. Now we suffer from Democrats that have learned to tax & spend AND borrow & spend. And folks think Bernie Madoff should go to jail? CONGRESS, the Senate, and the President that does now veto such reckless spending should join Mr. Madoff in his tiny cell. Now is the time to vote for Libertarians.
How long will it take?
How much money (in dollars) will be saved annually in electricity costs by the use of these solar panels? How long will the return on investment take? How much money will need to be spent to maintain these panels? What is the expected lifespan of these panels before they need to be replaced? What is the replacement cost? Of course this is coming from the man (last year) who said all we need to do is change the oil in our cars, tune them up and make sure our tires are inflated properly to lessen our dependency on foreign oil. Dominion Virginia Power made sure they didn't lose any revenue by families and institutions "going green" by raising our rates last year. When is Pelosi and Reid going to make sure OPEC and Chavez can't maipulate the price of crude anymore? As a contractor I'm definitely going to try to get in on this and make govt scale! At least then I'll know my taxes are (partially) well spent.
"steam plant area
"steam plant area decentralization" on Norfolk Naval Base?
That means an end to all those pipes running everywhere and belching steam non stop.
The base won't be the same.
Stimulus?
Stimulus is coming to Hampton Roads? Or should we call it debt to China is coming to Hampton Roads?