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After Republican leaders recently denounced “wasteful” science and technology research in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)—otherwise known as the 2009 economic stimulus package—the Obama Administration is taking steps to encourage a more favorable view. To that end, the Office of the Vice President has released the Administration’s first analysis of the $100 billion from ARRA spent on “innovative and transformative programs”.

Among other things, the 24 August report highlights investments in transportation technologies, renewable energy, broadband internet and medical research. All these areas, the report states, are meant to “increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health,” one of the five main goals of the $787 billion stimulus act.

By far, the largest slice of the stimulus pie, around $30 billion, went towards alternative energy in various forms, including $3 billion in tax credits for renewable energy companies. Those credits, the analysis states, will halve the cost of generating solar power by 2015, making it competitive with typical household electricity rates. Another $2 billion went towards the development of advanced electric car batteries.

Health information technology was another big winner, accounting for $19 billion of stimulus money. As an example, the report draws attention to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Beacon Communities project, which pushes for cost reductions and improved health care through the adoption of electronic health records.

Investments in health research totaled a further $10 billion, included NIH funding to help bring human genome sequencing down to $1,000 per reading. Further down the list, $8 billion was invested in high-speed rail, including the first stages of a high-speed rail link between Los Angeles to San Francisco.

While the report is decidedly optimistic in tone, the Associate Press offers a sobering reality check, saying it ignores many challenges and economic realities that could prevent the stimulus investments from bearing fruit.