The veterans will highlight the fact that oil money funds terrorism around the world and that the Defense Department has called climate change a threat to national security.

WHAT: Town Hall Meeting with veterans and Maine native Maj. General Don Edwards, US Army (ret.)

WHERE: Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101

WHEN: Saturday, June 12 @ 11:30 a.m.

Earlier this year, the US Defense Department identified climate change as a strategic threat to international security. Read more about this <http://www.operationfree.net/2010/02/01/dod-says-climate-change-is-a-threat/> .

Operation Free is a coalition of veterans and national security organizations dedicated to securing America with clean energy. Operation Free sponsors the Veterans for American Power National Tour, a 29 state tour by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans making the connection between energy policy and national security. Learn more at www.OperationFree.net <http://www.OperationFree.net> . Operation Free is an advocacy campaign of the Truman National Security Project.

RSVP at www.operationfree.net/portland

The CIA has opened a center on climate change, the Department of Defence placed climate change in their quadrennial report, the Marines are reducing their carbon pollution by 30 percent by 2025 and the Navy is reducing their carbon pollution by 50 percent on homeland bases by 2030. The Navy is also launching the great green fleet with hybrid destroyers and F-18s that run on biofuel by 2016. Our national security organizations are taking climate change seriously and we need to do the same by implementing smart legislation.

We want to make sure that we can secure America with clean energy by supporting climate change legislation this year and bringing as many people as we can to this town hall is our best shot at doing that. The RSVP information is below:

Climate Change and National Security Town Hall Meeting
Saturday, June 12, 11:30am
Portland Public Library, Rhines Auditorium
Five Monument Square
Portland, ME

RSVP at www.operationfree.net/portland

If you are interested in what we are doing then I encourage you to attend the event and find out more.

Some of those veterans traveled from Montana to Maine on a biodiesel bus tour, talking about the dangers climate change poses to national security. After 21 states and 72 cities, they completed the bus tour at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. There, Operation Free members were joined by officials, members of Repower Maine, and close to 200 supporters.

“We are a coalition of veterans and national security organizations that have come together because we believe national security and climate change are related. We need to take control of our energy future for our national security,” said Rep. Alexander Cornell du Houx, a spokesman of Operation Free.

With the threat of ocean levels rising, droughts, and mammoth storms, countries could become destabilized. The CIA, the Pentagon, and leading international organizations have concluded that climate change is a national security risk.

“The ecological effects of climate change can cause drought, famine, and migration shifts, which create refugees,” said Cornell du Houx. “It’s a threat multiplier.”

America’s dependency on foreign oil is continuing to put American solders at risk.

In Iraq IEDs, roadside bombs, are the most common threat to American troops. During a mission, Marine Sergeant Cornell du Houx was suddenly jolted from his seat in an armored vehicle which had been struck by an IED.

“Luckily, the farmer that placed the IED wasn’t experienced. He was displaced because of the war. He could not farm, so he was easily recruited by terrorists for a couple hundred dollars,” said Rep. Cornell du Houx. “I remember seeing trucks and cars waiting in line for gas and diesel in 130ºF. When curfew time came, we had to break up the line. A riot ensued. These people were so desperate, they risked their lives for that single source of energy. The same source we as a nation are dependent on.”

“We don’t want to continue to put our young men and women in harm’s way to fight over oil,” said Governor John Baldacci. “These veterans are leading the charge to fight back.”

That fight has also led members of Operation Free to lobby the Senate for a comprehensive climate change bill, and to Copenhagen in support of an international climate change treaty.

“In July of 2009, according to the Energy Information Administration. We bought, every single day, over one million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia,” said Maine veteran Andrew Campbell. “Everyday.”

Operation Free promotes the use of solar, wind, and other alternative technologies that would diminish and could eventually replace oil usage. Maine is on that road with Governor Baldacci’s push for the state to become an alternative-energy producer.

“We have the power and innovation needed to become independent of foreign fuels,” said the governor. “Together we can take the action needed.”

Veteran Mike Breen said, “American ingenuity has not failed us to this day. Technological innovation, skilled labor, and self-sufficiency are American core values. We can end our dependency on oil.” According to Breen, a fraction of what we spend at the gas pumps goes into bullets that find their way into the hands of terrorists. “Then those bullets are fired right back at our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

On June 26, the United States House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said, “The passing of that bill was one of my favorite moments of my freshman year in Congress. Were it not for our dependence on foreign oil, we never would have gotten involved in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will to do something about this. We want to take energy issues into our own hands. We can do this together.”

With an international treaty forged in Copenhagen and an Environmental Protection Agency report declaring that human activity is a root cause of global warming, it’s hopeful that the U.S. Senate will pass its version of the climate change bill.

“We can take charge of our security. We can take charge of our energy future. We can take charge by setting the direction for other countries to follow around the world,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud. “We have the power to begin change this year in the United States Congress, but we must push the U.S. Senate in the right direction for clean American power.”

Operation Free members asked the audience to take political action to help the progress of the bill in the Senate, by calling or writing Maine’s senators.

“It doesn’t matter what political party you are with. Everybody wants America to be secure; we need to take back our energy future,” said Army Iraq veteran Robin Eckstein.

Some 15 shovel-ready projects from public institutions, including schools, hospitals, and state, county, local and tribal government agencies, will be funded with $11.4 million stimulus funds received by the state.

These are one-time funds that will be spent or committed within two years. Working in conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Legislature and the U.S. Forest Service, the Conservation Department has determined that it will use the stimulus funding for contracts to support new or far-reaching programs to convert public facilities in Maine to wood heat.

Wood-pellet boilers at Strong and Kingfield Elementary Schools were purchased with a USDA grant. They’re a prime example of how schools can covert to wood pellets becoming more environmentally friendly while saving funds.

With a new wood pellet manufacture located in Strong, transportation costs are also minimal.

Governor John Baldacci and DOC Commissioner Pat McGowan visited Strong a year ago to highlight the school district first wood pellet burner at Mt. Abram High School. At that time, the Governor, who has been promoting wood pellets as an alternative fuel, said their initiative is an example for others to follow.

“At Mt. Abram they are actually stimulating economic growth. Using wood pellets manufactured just eight miles done the road helps create jobs and security in the community. The economic ripple effect will be great,” said Gov. John Baldacci. “We need to be in control of our own energy supply. Seeing gas hit over $4 a gallon jeopardized businesses across the country, and has cost jobs. We never should have become so dependent on foreign energy sources. This is a shinning example of how we can begin to turn that around.”

Through the fuel conversion process, the stimulus funding will create and support jobs among licensed solid wood-fuel professionals, contractors and engineering firms. Use of the recovery funds also is expected to benefit loggers and other forest-products professionals.

The biomass project applications must be submitted by Jan. 5, 2010, and the awards will be announced as soon as possible. The proposals must come from public institutions, rather than vendors, and must meet two basic guidelines: the wood-to-energy projects must be shovel-ready, and they must create or retain jobs.

The request for applications is available at www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/arra or contact Jennifer Wright, Maine Forest Service, at jennifer.wright@maine.gov.

UMaine’s Composites Center (AEWC) is developing stronger, more durable windmills for offshore and land wind farms. The dedication, sophistication, innovation, and expertise of the center’s research teams has led to composite technologies breakthroughs in a number of fields. But that’s only the beginning of the story. The AEWC Center also works with the private sector to develop their businesses in Maine.

Businesses too are leading the clean-energy charge. Reed & Reed, Inc. were contracted to erect the first Mars Hill wind farm. Since that success, they have taken on other projects and are now New England’s experts in the field. During the economic downturn, their traditional construction projects fell off in orders; at the same time windmill farms have given them record profits.

It takes a village, or in this case a consortium of companies, educational institutions, and public servants, to make the changes Maine needs to see happen. With a $20 million grant, UMaine will be bringing this “village” together to insure that Maine’s quality of life improves for future generations. At the same time, the Maine Wind Industry Initiative is building a diverse consortium to increase clean-energy opportunities. Many of their members joined the governor on the recent wind-energy trade mission to Europe. The Governor, Dr. Dagher of UMaine, and dignitaries, went on to visit the world’s first floating windmill off Norway to establish relationships so similar projects could be built off Maine’s coast.

The mission visited Europe’s leading wind-farm producers in Spain and Germany, who have infused their economies with sustainable jobs in the clean-energy economy. Europe has created 150,000 jobs in this sector, with the majority being in Spain, Germany, and Denmark, where they manufacture windmills.

Maine produces 95 percent of New England’s wind energy.

Growing a clean-energy economy helps the state grow its quality of life. In Oakfield a wind-farm development, with the potential to generate enough electricity to power 20,000 homes, was recently approved by voters. They understand that not only will their electricity rates go down in the future; their quality of life will improve. Because of the new development, a new fire station, road improvements, and a scholarship fund for students from the town who attend a Maine college or university will happen.

From the winds, waves, waterways, and wood, Maine is rich in sustainable energy resources. In the past five years, Maine has invested steadily in research and development, which has helped uncover new, revolutionary, sustainable uses of our natural resources.

Investments have also increased opportunities for Maine’s students with the Graduate School of Biomedical Science at UMaine, as well as new avenues for students to study to become doctors and pharmacists. Investing in Maine’s research and development helps educate students with cutting-edge tools, unleashing their potential as entrepreneurs. This in turn builds our economy, as businesses grow from discoveries made at our universities.

It has long been Governor John Baldacci’s vision to help transform Maine’s economy in this way, by investing in people. He knows the state has a critical role, as proponents of this economic change.

Maine has the distinction of being the only state in the union, during this recession, to lower income taxes for all taxpayers. For people making less than $250,000 a year, rates went from 8.5 percent to 6 percent.

Right now the governor is working to ensure that Maine has the needed transmission lines to transport the electrical energy produced here to market. The transmission corridors are essential for Maine to become a clean-energy exporter, which will bring thousands of sustainable jobs to the state.

Maine will begin to shine as entrepreneurs continue to unlock the hidden potential of the state’s natural resources and the state continues to help foster avenues for the people of Maine to realize their potential.

Continued investment in the people of Maine will spur Maine’s clean-energy revolution and fuel sustainable economic development.

On September 10, 2009 over 150 veterans, mostly from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, traveled from all corners of the country to Washington, DC. There they trained and took action on a new mission: Operation FREE.

These veterans, of all ages, joined forces to speak out against U.S. dependence on fossil fuels. Their call for action focused on the national security threat that this dependency creates as it continues to contribute to global warming.

Operation FREE is a rapidly growing coalition of leading Veterans, and national security organizations, that recognize that climate change is a major threat, and support fast, bold action.

On Thursday, the veterans visited the White House to participate in a discussion on the links between climate change, energy, and national security. For members of Operation FREE, climate change legislation is absolutely critical. At the White House the goals they share for this legislation were underscored:

• To allow America to cut down on carbon consumption and carbon emissions.

• Create clean energy incentives that will help accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technology, such as electric vehicles, wind power, and solar power, creating green jobs in the process.

• Promote energy efficiency by helping consumers and businesses develop and acquire energy-efficient appliances and buildings.

“We want to see these principles become law so America can call its own shots in the world, combat climate change, and protect our nation’s safety and security,” said Jonathan Powers, an Iraq veteran and Chief Operating Officer of the Truman National Security Project. “America can once again lead by example with clean energy jobs and grow our economy.”

Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, updated the veterans on some of the administrations energy initiatives said, “If we wait to see what happens with climate change, if we wait for the seas to rise, it will be to late. We’re honored by your service to our country and how you are combating the threat of climate change. I applaud for what you are doing.”

Former Senator John Warner who coauthored a bill on climate change that failed last year offered support and praise. “The creditability veterans bring to this issue cannot be underestimated,” he said.

Other administration speakers included Thomas Paul D’Agostino, Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy Joe Riojas, Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security, and Preparedness, Department of Veterans Affairs and
Mike Parker, Deputy Director, Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS), Department of Labor.

Afterward a press conference was held in front of the White House. There, with other veterans, Rep. Alexander Cornell du Houx, a sergeant in the Marine reserves from Brunswick, spoke about his experiences in Iraq that have led him to become the field coordinator for Operation FREE.

That same afternoon the veterans met with Senators from their respective states to highlight their support of the climate change legislation. Sen. Collins said she supports the legislation but was not specific on what she would vote for. Sen. Snowe was not available but her staff said she too was supportive of the legislation but offered no details.

Rep. Cornell du Houx talked in length to Sen. Snowe’s staff about weatherization efforts she has supported and helped fund with the Recovery Act and how efforts are progressing to transition the former BNAS Navy station into a clean energy/ innovation hub.

Back in Brunswick Rep. Cornell du Houx said, “Our dependence on oil is a serious threat to our national security which is why a coalition of national security organizations have joined together to make America more secure by taking control of our energy future. Here in Brunswick we are doing our part by working to develop the composite industry to support the development of wind mills, since we have the equivalent of over 40 nuclear power plants worth of wind energy off the Maine coast.”

Rep. Cornell du Houx speaks about the importance for national security becoming energy independent at a White House press event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3g1BPSS-fY

For more about Operation FREE go to: www.operationfree.net/home