Truman National Security Project

Camarillo, Calif. –Today, Mike Breen, the Vice President of the Truman National Security Project and former U.S. Army Captain, testified before the California State Senate at an informational hearing on energy security, California businesses and military partnerships. The hearing highlighted the ways in which California clean energy companies are working with the Department of Defense to strengthen the state’s energy security, stimulate the local economy, and create jobs.

In his testimony, Breen praised the California State Senate for unanimously passing legislation that will promote the development of clean, domestic energy sources. The Energy Security Coordination Act, S.B. 1409, which was sponsored by Operation Free and parent organization Truman National Security Project, directs the governor of research and planning to coordinate energy policies with the U.S. Department of Defense in order to resolve conflicts that might arise in the military’s research, development, and deployment of clean energy in California.

Breen said: “S.B. 1409 ensures that California and the Department of Defense (DoD) coordinate closely to implement clean energy policies. This landmark law empowers the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to serve as a liaison between state government agencies and the DoD on clean energy projects and policies- a tremendous boost for California companies competing over contracts to develop the next generation of energy solutions for the battlefield. S.B. 1409 ensures that the State of California capitalizes on every opportunity to assist the Department of Defense in advancing our nation’s energy security objectives, creating new jobs and achieving California’s clean energy goals in the process.”

Governor Brown signed S.B. 1409 into law this week.

At the hearing, Sen. Fran Pavley thanked the Truman Project for its support of S.B. 1409. “I want to especially recognize the work of the Truman National Security Project in leading discussions at the state and national level on issues surrounding energy security. Thousands of veterans across the country have joined forces under the Truman project to execute Operation Free, a national campaign to break our dependence on oil through clean energy. The Truman National Security Project has been instrumental in participating in key policy discussions in California and sponsored legislation I authored, Senate Bill 1409.”

Since 2009, the Truman National Security Project has been the leading voice on highlighting the connection between national security and energy independence with their ground breaking Operation Free campaign. Learn more at www.operationfree.net

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Operation Free is a national coalition of US military veterans working to send the message that America’s security relies on ending our addiction to oil and establishing clean, renewable sources of energy. Operation Free is a campaign of the Truman National Security Project.