May 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama announced his administration would put $467 million in federal stimulus funding into development of geothermal and solar energy projects.

Obama today toured Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, which has the country’s biggest array of solar panels producing electricity, to promote his goal of using federal spending to boost both the overall economy and alternative energy research and development.

The president said the stimulus money is helping “lay a new foundation for prosperity” in part by investing in renewable sources of energy for the country.

“We have a choice,” he said. “We can remain the world’s leading importer of oil, sending our money and our wealth away, or we can become the world’s leading exporter of clean energy.”

The president is using the occasion of the 100th day since passage of the $787 billion Economic Recovery Act to announce the alternative energy projects. Those include $350 million for geothermal demonstration projects, research and surveys, and $117 million for solar energy efforts.

The solar technology effort is intended to replicate the Nellis project, which provide about a quarter of the base’s electricity, across the country.

‘Energy Revolution’

A “renewable energy revolution is one of the pillars” that will help prevent another economic collapse, he said.

Obama also is releasing a report entitled “100 Days 100 Projects”’ to promote the administration’s efforts. It says the government has obligated more than $100 billion, or about 13 percent, of the $787 billion to create more than 150,000 jobs.

Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, criticized the administration’s assessment, saying the economy has lost 1 million jobs since the stimulus was enacted.

“The Obama administration may believe its own spin, but American families want jobs and to keep more of what they earn, not another ‘report,’” Steele said.

The U.S. has lost 5.7 million jobs since payrolls starting dropping in January of last year. Obama’s advisers project the stimulus measure will save or create 3.5 million jobs.

In addition to the energy projects, Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan was scheduled to announce new funding for American Indian housing.

Stimulus Spending

About $575 billion in stimulus spending is earmarked for roads, schools and other infrastructure projects to create jobs and make up for tax revenue losses caused by the recession. That includes $39 billion for unemployed workers in families.

The spending is intended to help pull the U.S. out of the worst recession in half a century. There are some indications that the economy is turning around. Payrolls in the U.S. shrank in April by the least in six months as the federal government stepped up hiring for the country’s next census. Still, the unemployment rate jumped to 8.9 percent, the highest level since 1983.

Most economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics say the recession probably will end in the third quarter of the year.

The Nellis stop by Obama was sandwiched between political fundraising events during his two-day swing through Nevada and California. He helped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, raise almost $2 million last night in Las Vegas. In Los Angeles, he’ll raise money for the Democratic National Committee before returning to Washington tonight.

To contact the reporter on this story: Hans Nichols in Las Vegas at hnichols2@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 27, 2009 15:00 EDT