[CPEO-MEF] ENERGY, RADIATION: Senate stimulus plan

[Lenny Siegel]

The Senate Appropriations Committee portion of the economic stimulus 
includes at least two significant Defense environmental items. A January 
27, 2009 summary of the Plan may be downloaded from 
http://appropriations.senate.gov/.

* $6.4 billion is directed towards environmental cleanup of former 
weapon production and energy research sites. These projects will be of 
limited duration aimed at decreasing the overall site footprint and 
reducing recurring annual costs. This work will move toward decreasing 
the footprint at some sites by up to 90%. The footprint reduction will 
free up these lands for other economic purposes. This funding will not 
only spur the economy through job creation now, but it will save the 
tax-payers money in the future by resulting in over $8 billion in 
life-cycle cost savings. Significantly, the majority of the funding will 
go out through existing contracts at sites across the country assuring 
the timely impact of the funding.

* $613 million for energy efficiency upgrades and construction of 
alternative energy projects, including wind and solar power and 
photovoltaic roof systems, at Department of Defense facilities... The 
Department of Defense is the largest consumer of energy in the Federal 
government, and has made energy conservation a key component of new 
construction. As well as contributing to energy efficiency and 
innovation within the Department of Defense, energy-related military 
construction funding has the potential to stimulate construction and 
manufacturing jobs in the energy and alternative energy industry. 
Defense Department energy construction funding includes the following:

      * Energy Conservation Investment Program: $118.5 million for 
energy conservation projects, energy upgrades, and construction of 
alternative energy projects such as wind power and photovoltaic systems 
at military installations Department-wide.

      * Navy Energy Construction and Improvements: $494.4 million for 
Navy energy efficiency upgrades and construction of alternative energy 
projects, including wind and solar power and photovoltaic system 
installation.


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Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel at cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org