The Economy:

For the military in Nevada, not much stimulus

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Out of the very large stimulus pie, defense-related projects are getting only a crumb.

President Barack Obama rejected traditional defense spending as a means of stimulus — buying more F-22 Raptors, the production of which employs thousands in 44 states, for example — and instead allocated money to military installations for basic construction projects. In total, the money represents less than 1 percent of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Here’s what’s coming Nevada’s way:

Nellis Air Force Base is receiving $13.4 million to build a child development center, with construction scheduled to begin in February, and more than $9.8 million for five base repair projects, such as fixing water mains and airfield lighting circuit cables.

The Army will receive about $2 million for maintenance at various facilities, including National Guard complexes, and almost $4 million for two construction projects at Hawthorne Army Depot, most of which will go to building geothermal test wells.

Development of energy conservation projects is not just a goal of the stimulus package, but also a new focus of the military.

Naval Air Station Fallon will also receive more than $9 million for geothermal energy development.