Operation Free » Brendan Flynn

On the Top of a Mountain in Rural New Hampshire, Progress toward Energy Self-Reliance

Brendan Flynn — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:37:58 +0000

As we’ve traveled across the country on the Veterans for American Power tour, we’ve talked a lot about the budding clean energy industry, and the possibilities for major expansion of that industry with passage of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. But we haven’t had much chance to see the clean energy revolution up close and personal.

Until now.

Last Saturday, on a beautiful early Spring day, we braved the winding backcountry roads of rural New Hampshire to visit the Lempster Mountain Wind Power Project and meet the Onnelas, the family that owns the land. These 12 wind turbines produce a full 24 megawatts of energy — enough to power 10,000 homes. And all without disrupting the lives of the Onnelas, who live just a few hundred feet away from one of the windmills.

Just as interesting as the wind turbines themselves are the folks who own the land. Much like the generals and analysts at the Pentagon and CIA who have identified climate change and oil dependency as a security threat, land owner Kevin Onnela is not your typical clean energy advocate. He drives a well-used pickup truck, drinks Coors Light from the can, and pointedly refers to himself politically as “somewhere between Republican and middle-of-the-road Tea Party.”

But at his heart, Kevin basically wants what most Americans, liberal and conservative, want: to maintain his self-reliance and live the way he wants to live.

In a larger sense, this should be our goal as a nation as well. We need to stop relying on petro-dictators who don’t have America’s best interests at heart. America needs to stand up, take back control, and put together an energy policy that strengthens our security through clean, American power.

In Lempster, on the top of a mountain in rural New Hampshire, we saw the future — the leading edge of a movement towards clean energy that will help us defeat terrorism and make America great again.

So call your Senators now and urge them to support clean energy and climate legislation.

Pennsylvania Needs to Take the Lead Again

Brendan Flynn — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:30:33 +0000

Driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg on the Veterans for American Power tour, I am reminded of the fact that this road, when it was first built in the late 1930s, was the longest limited-access divided highway in the United States.

Indeed, the Turnpike was, in its day, revolutionary.

Pennsylvania, my home state, has often led the way in this manner. In fact, PA was the site of the first commercial oil well, drilled by Edwin Drake near Titusville in 1858. We led the nation in steel production, and many important inventions — such as the “hookless fastener” (zipper) invented in Meadville in the early 20th century — came from this state.

Now Pennsylvania has the chance to lead in a new field — clean energy industry. The state has a large, well-trained blue-collar workforce, and factories that are below capacity and available to be re-tooled to build wind turbine blades and solar panels. It’s already happening in some places, but for clean energy to really blossom, we need comprehensive national policy.

And that’s where Senators Specter and Casey come in. They have a great opportunity to bring the Commonwealth and the nation into the industry of the future. By supporting a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill, they will ensure that we strengthen our security, and at the same time create new jobs for a new Pennsylvania.

From the Turnpike to the zipper, here is nothing that Pennsylvania cannot do if we have leadership and vision. So it’s time for Senators Specter and Casey to stand strong and support clean energy/climate legislation.

From Cheboygan to Monroe, Michiganders Understand the Connection between Energy and Security

Brendan Flynn — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:56:45 +0000

Driving through farm country on our way to Monroe for our last event in Michigan, a man on a tractor saluted the bus.

This seemed a fitting end to our time in the Great Lakes State. From the clean energy businessman who sought us out after he saw the bus parked in Traverse City, to the retirees at UAW Local 651 that Larry and Robin got fired up about clean energy jobs, to the lady at the Monroe VFW who served us mostaccioli and then offered to bring our message to the next meeting of the Ladies’ Auxiliary, we were greeted at every turn with great Midwestern warmth and hospitality.

It’s clear that Michigan sees the great potential for clean energy to revitalize the manufacturing sector and put people back to work. I think we’ve done our part to make sure that Michiganders understand the direct relationship between our energy policy and our national security, and that we need to stop funding both sides of the war.

Next up, the Buckeye State of Ohio.

Pres. Obama, Sen. Graham coming together on Clean Energy

Brendan Flynn — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:39:14 +0000

Our very own Jon Powers had a great piece in The Hill on Friday that highlights the opportunity now before the Senate to pass a strong clean energy and climate bill that will put America back in control of our energy future and strengthen American national security.

I was with Jon and other veterans from across the country at the Clean Energy, Jobs, and Security Forum on Wednesday where we joined with leaders from the national security, agriculture, business, labor, and faith communities to discuss the need for legislation that will create a market solution to the problem of carbon pollution and reduce our dependence on oil from people who don’t like us.

As Jon wrote in his piece, we heard from top administration officials like Steven Chu and Carol Browner, as well as key Senators in the effort such as John Kerry, Debbie Stabenow, and Sherrod Brown.

But perhaps the greatest ovation came for Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has been unabashed in his support for strong clean energy legislation (and has come under fire from some in his party for doing so).

In pointed terms, Senator Graham spoke about how Senators from both parties need to come together on this issue. He proudly proclaimed that “as a Republican, I believe clean air is a good thing.” And he urged the audience to loudly express their support of clean energy legislation to their elected representatives in Washington.

Later that evening, President Obama echoed Senator Graham’s consensus-building tone in his first State of the Union address.

Clearly, there is a great deal of work to be done on this issue. But if Pres. Obama and Sen. Graham’s comments last week on clean energy are any indication, there may still be a glimmer of bipartisanship in Washington. And that spirit of bipartisanship may just get clean energy legislation across the finish line.