Operation Free
Secure America with Clean Energy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2011
CONTACT
Benjamin Lowe, (607) 280-5693, ben@trumanproject.org
Veteran in Ad: Christie Surrendering to
China on Clean Energy
Statewide campaign includes radio, mail focused on Christie’s leadership failure
NEW JERSEY— Today, veterans group Operation Free released a 30 second radio ad “Retreat” in New Jersey which targets Governor Christie’s leadership failures on clean energy jobs. The initial buy on Trenton WKXW 101.5 in Trenton will runs for a week.
In the ad, Former US Army Captain Terron Sims highlights Governor Christie’s failure of leadership on clean energy jobs. Recently, Governor Chris Christie chose to retreat from successful clean energy efforts when he pulled the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The ad also highlights suggestions in Christie’s recently-released Master Energy Plan that America should wait for China and Europe to perfect clean technology first. Sims reminds Christie that “Americans don’t settle for second place.”
The ad is part of a statewide campaign by veterans to highlight the connection between clean energy and national security. Other recent events included a telephone town hall which connected tens of thousands of New Jersey restident to veterans and legislators, and a capitol press conference calling for Governor Christie to support clean energy initiatives that strengthen America’s economy and security.
Michael Breen, an Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran and Vice President of the Truman National Security Project, said, “It’s outrageous that Governor Christie would sound the retreat from RGGI when it’s proven so successful at spurring critical investments in clean energy. By pulling out of this important program and surrendering to China on clean energy, his failure of leadership will not only cost New Jersey countless clean energy jobs, but, by doubling down on dirty fuels and doing nothing to fight our dangerous oil addiction, will also make America less safe. New Jersey and our entire nation both deserve more from their leaders than reckless political game-playing and surrendering in a fight we need to win.”
Truman National Security Project
NAME: “Retreat”
LENGTH: 30
RADIO
| Language | Notes |
| Surrender to China? Retreat from Success? I’m Former US Army Captain Terron Sims and that’s not how I learned to lead. | Terron Daniel Sims, II is a 2000 West Point graduate who served in Iraq from May 2003 – July 2004. He formed, facilitated, and mentored the local government and municipality in Baghdad’s Tisa Nissan District. In Baghdad, Terron served as his squadron’s liaison officer to the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the UN, and in Al Kut, was the primary military liaison officer to Wasit Province. Terron’s final Army assignment, prior to his honorable discharge from active duty, was supervising the early stages of, and designing, a $29 Million real-world fighting village for the Joint Readiness Training Center to better prepare soldiers for Iraq and Afghanistan. Sims is a Security Fellow at the Truman National Security Project. Full bio. |
| But that’s what Governor Christie is doing with our energy security.
First, he retreated from a successful regional clean energy effort. |
Christie recently announced he was pulling New Jersey out of RGGI, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program which has successfully provided millions of dollars for clean energy and clean technology development in New Jersey. |
| And last week he said America should take a back seat to China on clean energy jobs. | On June 7, Governor Christie released his 2011 Draft Energy Master Plan. Rather than using RGGI income to promote clean energy technology, his plan suggests waiting for new wind power technology to be perfected by China, saying “In years ahead, New Jersey should monitor technology and operating developments in Europe and China, as larger turbines yield potential cost and performance advantages over existing technology.” (Page 7) |
| The soldiers I served with would never give up so quickly with our strength at stake. | Military leaders have consistently identified America’s energy posture as a threat to national security. For years, it has been known that dependence on oil from hostile nations funds global terrorism. (US News, The Saudi Connection, 12/7/03) And the impact of climate change on global stability and American security has been highlighted by the Department of Defense, Central Intelligence Agency, and National Intelligence Council. See also, CNAS report. |
| Governor Christie, Americans don’t settle for second place. | |
| Paid for by the Truman National Security Project. | The Truman Project is a national security leadership institute which recruits, trains, and positions progressives to lead on national security. The Truman Project is a 501(c)4 organization. More at www.TrumanProject.org. |
The Energy-National Security Connection. The Department of Defense, the CIA, and the State Department all publicly recognize the threat of climate change, and have adopted ambitious policies to pursue clean energy initiatives, in stark contrast to the reckless abandonment of clean energy by Governor Christie. Since its inception, RGGI has raised more than $800 million for clean energy initiatives in the ten-state region of the program, funding which has been used to spur job growth in the clean energy sector while reducing carbon emissions and helping to address the American addiction to oil.
Operation Free is a coalition of veterans and national security organizations dedicated to securing America with clean energy. Operation Free sponsored 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. Operation Free is an advocacy campaign of the Truman National Security Project.
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