The Bush administration will soon launch a big “energy independence” initiative, likely to include re-newed emphasis on biofuels, as part of an attempt to regain the political initiative following the midterm elections.

Plans to develop technology to make fuel from plant waste could be a big beneficiary of the plan, Alan Hubbard, the top White House economic advisor, has suggested. His comments come as the White House seeks to recover from what Mr Bush called a “thumping” in Tuesday’s vote by changing its political tone and challenging Democrats to work with it on a range of practical policy issues.