PDA

View Full Version : Area bases receiving $57 million



thedrifter
03-25-09, 09:11 AM
Area bases receiving $57 million
Comments 0 | Recommend 2
March 24, 2009 - 5:12 PM
AMANDA HICKEY

The Department of Defense released its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expenditure plans, and Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River and MCAS Cherry Point are set to receive part of the funds.

Of the $7.4 billion defense-related appropriations, eastern North Carolina's three Marine Corps installations are set to receive more than $57 million, according to the expenditure report.

Camp Lejeune will receive more than $43 million, MCAS New River will receive more than $12 million and MCAS Cherry Point will receive a little more than $1 million.

The funds directed to Camp Lejeune will generally support projects that have an energy savings component tied to them, according to Marine Corps Installations East spokesman Maj. Nat Fahy.

"These include steam/condensate replacements, updating our HVAC units to more efficient systems, and changing out current lighting to more efficient LED lighting. Additionally, with solar panel upgrades, we hope to achieve photovoltaic production of approximately 1 megawatt of clean renewable power, while other expenditures will cover roof and window repairs to reduce unnecessary energy waste," Fahy said. "Collectively, these enhancements will aid us in our effort to reduce both our overall consumption and perhaps in some small way, our reliance on foreign energy sources."

Money at New River will go toward repairs to the bachelor enlisted quarters; the HVAC, mechanical and electrical systems; roofs and windows on administrative facilities; and the steam and condensation systems, according to the report.

"These projects will provide necessary repairs and improvements to our facilities to not only improve the quality of life for our Marines, but also save energy in keeping with the president's initiative to go green," said Randy Scott, MCAS New River's logistics officer.

Cherry Point's two projects - a solar training pool and facility energy improvements, according to the report - will save the Havelock air station approximately $357,000 annually, Deputy Director of Public Affairs Mike Barton said.

According to the report, which was released Friday, defense-related appropriations account for less than 1 percent of the $787 billion stimulus package President Barack Obama signed Feb. 17.

North Carolina as a whole has seven DoD construction projects slated, totaling approximately $69 million, according to the report.

California installations are set to receive approximately $772 million, according to the report, while Texas is set to receive approximately $726 million.

Construction aboard Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station is expected to be complete in June 2010, according to the report, while Cherry Point's construction is expected to be complete in Sept. 2010.



Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com.

Ellie