EU backing Jordanian energy plans

The European government said $102 million in financial assistance to Jordan will help support the country's renewable energy objectives.Jordan is pressing ahead with a clean energy strategy envisioned during the next decade for the Arab kingdom.The European Commission said it was designating almost half of its $102 assistance package toward Jordan's renewable energy efforts.Jordan laid out an energy strategy that sets a goal of 10 percent energy production from renewable energy and 20 percent in energy savings by 2020.Stefan Fule, European commissioner for enlargement and European neighborhood policy, in a statement said Jordan has some laudable energy ambitions."A 20 percent reduction in energy use is an impressive target, and I am pleased that the European Union is doing what it can to help the country achieve it," he said.The remainder of the financial package would target education initiatives in Jordan.