Washington, D.C. -- President Obama phoned U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie today to continue discussions on the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act. The legislation is expected on the House floor tomorrow (Friday) for debate. Abercrombie met yesterday with Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. 

“I’ve made my position very clear. I believe that energy independence is life and death for Hawaii’s economic future and for United States national security interests,” said Abercrombie. “The Waxman-Markey bill begins to move the country toward energy independence from foreign oil.” 

Abercrombie has been evaluating the impact of the Waxman-Markey legislation on Hawaii. “My first responsibility is to protect the interests of Hawaii taxpayers and utility rate payers,” he said. “Nearly all our energy supplies are imported, which makes them even more expensive than on the Mainland.  The full development and use of alternative fuels and renewable technologies — as soon as possible — is essential.”   

Abercrombie has told President Obama and Congressional leaders that the bipartisan American Independence and Clean Energy Act, which he authored with a group of Democratic and Republican House Members, should be a follow-on measure to make the Waxman-Markey bill more effective. 

“I’m very pleased that the President is open to the approach in our bill, which creates new sources of revenue to pay for full development of alternative and renewable energy, so we can stop spending $700 billion per year on foreign oil,” Abercrombie said.  

“President Obama understands that it’s critical, when individuals, families and businesses are stretched to the limit just to get by, to find a path to a cleaner, greener, American energy future without increasing their financial burden.”

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