Renewable energy initiatives to change

Three US programmes dedicated to boost and encourage the use of renewable energy, in addition to create more jobs in rural areas, are to face interim rule changes.

The Biorefinery Assistance Program, the Repowering Assistance Program and the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels will be impacted by the changes, which will allow non-rural locations to be eligible for funding and remove prior citizenship requirements for borrowers.

'These changes contribute to the Obama Administration's effort to revitalise our rural economy and meet our energy challenges,' says Tom Vilsack, US Agriculture Secretary. 'It's in our effort to "win the failure." USDA's renewable energy programmes provide domestic energy production and develop a domestic renewable energy industry which will create jobs and reduce America's dependence on imported oil.'