Gov. Gary Johnson at UNH: Bring Our Troops and Dollars Home From Afghanistan Now

Sept. 19, 2012, Durham, NH — Calling Tuesday's announcement that the U.S. and NATO are essentially suspending joint operations with Afghan forces a "long-overdue acknowledgement of reality," presidential candidate and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson today called on President Obama to "bring our troops home now."

Appearing at an event at the University of New Hampshire, Gov. Johnson said, "In recent weeks, we have witnessed the unspeakable tragedy of American service members being murdered by the very 'security forces' they are training. More than 50 international military personnel have been killed by Afghan forces this year alone, and we have already had to stop trying to 'train' Afghan police recruits.

"The net result of recent developments — and decisions — in Afghanistan is that we are at a very dangerous tipping point. There will undoubtedly be those who wrongly suggest that the purported 'exit strategy' of the Obama Administration should be delayed and efforts stepped up to get control of the obvious chaos. That would be a monumental mistake, and a failure to face the fact that, as the British and Soviets before us learned, Afghanistan is not a place we can control or upon which we can impose our will. Instead, now is the perfect opportunity for America to say 'We're better than this' and bring our troops home and out of harm's way.

"Let us not forget that we went into Afghanistan to uproot Al Qaeda and attack those who attacked us on 9/11. That mission was complete in a matter of months. Yet, we have remained there and engaged in ill-fated nation-building for more than a decade — at absurd costs in lives and treasure. After all that American benevolence, it is absolutely unacceptable to ask our troops to hand weapons to Afghan 'security forces', teach them how to use them, and then risk being shot by those same forces with those same weapons.

"By suspending that training and now suspending joint operations with Afghan troops, our military leaders on the ground are facing reality. It is time for our political leaders to do the same, and bring our troops and our dollars home."

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 About presidential candidate Gary Johnson: Gary Johnson, two-term governor of New Mexico from 1995-2003, has been a consistent advocate for limited, efficient government and personal liberty. Johnson switched from the Republican Party to the Libertarian Party on Dec. 28, 2011. As the Libertarian Party nominee, Johnson will appear on all 50 states' ballots. An outspoken pro-Constitution Libertarian, Johnson would end the war in Afghanistan now. He opposes the failed multi-billion dollar war on drugs and demands greater transparency at the Federal Reserve. As president, Johnson would cut federal spending by 43 percent, slash debt and make government live within its means while reducing taxes and regulation to foster real job creation and economic opportunity like he did in eight years as governor. The National Review said he was "#1" in job creation as governor. An avid skier and bicyclist, he has reached the highest peaks on four of the seven continents, including Mount Everest.

Gov. Gary Johnson Holds Event at University of New Hampshire Wednesday

FORMER NEW MEXICO GOV. GARY JOHNSON

CONTINUES NATIONWIDE, 15-STOP, COLLEGE TOUR,

NEXT UP: UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

  

Sept. 17, 2012, NEW YORK CITY — Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson continues his nationwide college tour with a visit to the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday, Sept. 19. The UNH event marks the second stop in Gov. Johnson's 15-campus trip.

College events will include a speech by Gov. Johnson, music, Q & A sessions, and more. Media and the public are welcome.

Please see event details below.

Wednesday, Sept. 19

12-2 p.m. ET, Gov. Johnson holds campus event, University of New Hampshire, 105 Main Street, Durham. Location on campus: Memorial Union Building, Granite State Room.

Gov. Johnson will be available for interviews throughout his New Hampshire visit. To schedule, please contact Natalie Dicou, phone: (801) 994-0321, email: nataliedicou@garyjohnson2012.com.

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For more information about Gary Johnson, go to www.garyjohnson2012.com.

 

About presidential candidate Gary Johnson: Gary Johnson, two-term governor of New Mexico from 1995-2003, has been a consistent advocate for limited, efficient government and personal liberty. Johnson switched from the Republican Party to the Libertarian Party on Dec. 28, 2011. As the Libertarian Party nominee, Johnson will appear on all 50 states' ballots. An outspoken pro-Constitution Libertarian, Johnson would end the war in Afghanistan now. He opposes the failed multi-billion dollar war on drugs and demands greater transparency at the Federal Reserve. As president, Johnson would cut federal spending by 43 percent, slash debt and make government live within its means while reducing taxes and regulation to foster real job creation and economic opportunity like he did in eight years as governor. The National Review said he was "#1" in job creation as governor. An avid skier and bicyclist, he has reached the highest peaks on four of the seven continents, including Mount Everest.

Young Americans for Romney Hold University Day Event at UNH

Durham, NH – After a record breaking Super Saturday this past weekend, the grassroots support for Romney/Ryan will be kicking into high gear. Trillions of dollars in new government debt, soaring college tuition rates and the worst youth unemployment crisis in a generation have left students far worse off than they were four years ago. They want to see change in the White House. The Young Americans for Romney coalition has seen an explosion of support for this election and have contributed to the impressive voter contact milestones.

Almost four years after taking office, Granite Staters are not better off under President Obama. Young Americans are energized by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s plan to fix the economy by passing pro-growth policies that will create 12 million new jobs and result in higher take-home pay. Students will be tabling at Thompson Lawn, persuading their peers to vote for the Romney/Ryan ticket while encouraging voter registration and volunteer sign ups. The following event is open to the press:

Thursday, September 13, 2012:

Event:                  Young Americans for Romney hold University Day event at UNH

Location:             University of New Hampshire

                                Thompson Hall Lawn

                                100 Main Street

                                Durham, NH

Time:                    3:45 PM – 5:30 PM

Subcommittee Examines Bass Legislation to Improve Energy Efficiency, Cost Savings

Head of UNH energy systems testifies about university’s success with combined heat and power technology, a key tenet of Bass’ bill

WASHINGTON – The House Subcommittee on Energy and Power heard testimony earlier today from experts, including the Assistant Vice President of campus energy systems at the University of New Hampshire, about how bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Charles F. Bass (NH-02) will get the federal government and many businesses on a path to greater energy efficiency and cost savings.

The hearing examined Bass’ bipartisan Smart Energy Act, which will improve the federal government’s efforts to better manage energy consumption, encourage innovations in new energy efficiency technologies by leveraging private sector investments, and set a strategic goal to double electricity production through efficient technologies like combined heat and power and waste heat recovery.  The bill also examines ways to support innovative manufacturing processes to reduce industrial energy consumption.

Bass said:

“Today’s hearing furthered the ongoing discussion about how we can move from focusing solely on the supply side of the energy debate to the demand side as well.  Improving energy efficiency is a clean and cheap way to reduce our energy costs and holds tremendous potential for new innovations and economic growth. 

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this issue and hope we can move forward on solutions over the next few months that both the House and Senate can agree on as we continue our national energy debate.”

Paul Chamberlin, the Assistant Vice President of Energy and Campus Development at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), testified before the subcommittee about UNH’s success with a new cogeneration system used to heat the campus and provide electricity that has generated an estimated $3 million in savings last year alone in addition to reduced emissions and demand on the regional energy grid.  The university’s new cogeneration system, called ECOLine, is unique in that it uses landfill gas as its primary source of fuel, one of the only institutions of higher learning to do so.

In his testimony, Chamberlin noted his support for Bass’ legislation and specifically the bill’s goal of doubling combined heat and power production by 2020.  Chamberlin stated that “[c]ogeneration also offers much greater efficiency in the way fuel energy is converted into useable forms of heat and electrical energy and thus reduces the demand on our energy supply…Based on our experience at the University of New Hampshire, I strongly believe cogeneration systems should be encouraged as a matter of sound business and good public policy.”

Bass said, “Paul’s testimony today gave members a terrific firsthand account of the benefits of developing and utilizing energy efficiency technologies like combined heat and power.  His leadership helped to move New Hampshire’s largest university toward reduced energy consumption and cost savings for the taxpayer and we can use UNH’s experience as a model for the rest of the nation.”

“I applaud Rep. Bass for his leadership in drafting the Smart Energy Act. We can reduce energy consumption through energy efficiency and the federal government can lead on that by example. This bill is a step in that direction,” Rep. Ed Whitfield, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, said.

Bass’ legislation has received broad support among trade associations and businesses, including the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Chemistry Council, Dow Chemical, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Electric Contractors Association, Pew Charitable Trusts, Schneider Electric, and United Technologies, among others.

Kateri Callahan, the President of the Alliance to Save Energy, stated in her testimony this afternoon that “Congressmen Bass and Matheson have drafted a bipartisan measure that will move our country significantly closer toward enactment of energy efficiency legislation this year that can create jobs and benefit the nation’s economy.”

VIDEO of Bass introducing Chamberlin and discussing his Smart Energy Act: http://youtu.be/R7hWDza3P80.

VIDEO of Chamberlin’s opening statement before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power: http://youtu.be/J8FEYbnY-NI.

http://bass.house.gov

Head of UNH Energy Systems to Testify About Bass' 'Smart Energy Act' at Hearing on Thursday

UNH Assistant Vice President will discuss university’s use of combined heat and power technology, a key tenet of Bass’ bill

WASHINGTON – Congressman Charles F. Bass (NH-02) announced today that Paul D. Chamberlin, the Assistant Vice President of Energy and Campus Development at the University of New Hampshire, will testify on Bass’ bipartisan Smart Energy Act before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power on Thursday. 

The hearing, which will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 12, in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building, will examine Bass’ bipartisan legislation to get the federal government and many businesses on a path to greater energy efficiency and cost savings.  The hearing will be webcast live at http://energycommerce.house.gov/.  A list of other witnesses testifying at the hearing can be found here.

Chamberlin is responsible for all aspects of the campus energy and utility systems at the University of New Hampshire, as well as the facility planning, design, and construction of the 5.5 million square-foot campus in Durham.  Chamberlin is a registered professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of California, Davis and a Master of Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Bass said, “It’s an honor to have Paul join me at the hearing on Thursday to talk about how combined heat and power technology – a component of my Smart Energy Act – will help to reduce overall energy costs.  Paul’s experience in working with these unique systems at our state’s largest university will be a terrific addition to the hearing on Thursday and demonstrates how New Hampshire companies, schools, and nonprofits are leading the way in developing and utilizing energy efficiency technologies.” 

Chamberlin said, “As a recognized leader in improved energy efficiency, the University of New Hampshire applauds the efforts of Representative Bass to increase our nation’s combined heat and power and waste heat recovery capabilities. The University of New Hampshire has combined a modern cogeneration plant with a one-of-a-kind system that replaces natural gas with gas from a nearby landfill as the primary cogeneration plant fuel.  Called ECOLine, the $49 million investment is demonstrating that creative application of technology can make practical use of non-traditional energy sources a reality while substantially reducing regional air pollution emissions. Landfill gas now provides nearly 70% of the campus energy and nearly 80% of the fuel used by the cogeneration plant to create steam and electric power for the campus.”

Specifically, Bass’ Smart Energy Act will:

• ·         Optimize the use of energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) to create jobs and improve performance of federal buildings by leveraging private sector investment in public building projects.

• ·         Establish a strategic plan to double the production of electricity through the use of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat recovery by 2020.  Maximizing energy already created for both its thermal and electric generation capabilities is a core definition of efficiency.

• ·         Direct federal agencies to take common-sense first steps—such as data center consolidation, personal computer power savings techniques, and participation in utility demand-response programs—to better manage energy consumption.

Bass toured several companies in New Hampshire earlier this year to see firsthand how they are utilizing new energy efficiency technologies to reduce energy costs and power their facilities, including Velcro USA in Manchester, Concord Steam, and the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield.

http://bass.house.gov