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Oil-producing Iran looks to solar to light future

By WTOP Staff

ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press

SICHANLOO, Iran (AP) — In this village nestled in the arid hills of rural Iran, government-subsidized solar panels on the rooftops of homes provide both needed electricity and a shining symbol of efforts by the Islamic Republic to wean itself off fossil fuels and nuclear power.

President Hassan Rouhani’s government has quintupled its spending on solar power projects in the last year, taking advantage of Iran’s 300-odd days of sunshine a year that make its vast sun-kissed lands one of the best spots on earth to host solar panels. While being good for the environment, the panels also offer rural Iran steady power amid uncertainty over the country’s contested nuclear program as it negotiates with world powers.

And as the Islamic Republic cuts back on subsidies that once made gasoline cheaper than bottled mineral water, a push toward self-sustaining solar power could help the government save money and bolster its sanctions-battered economy.

“A big change is in the making in Iran,” said Saman Mirhadi, a senior government official in charge of solar projects.

Iran, home to some 77 million people, is a fossil-fuel powerhouse, even in the crude-oil rich Middle East. It is home to both the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves and massive natural gas reserves.

However, sanctions have cut into the country’s refining and production capabilities. Iran’s economy also has faltered, while the country’s push for nuclear energy has come under scrutiny over Western fears the Islamic Republic could use its program to build atomic bombs. Iran has said its program is for peaceful purposes.

Rouhani’s administration, however, sees a bright future in solar, spending $60 million this year on solar projects compared to just $12 million last year. It especially wants to target rural communities largely cut off from government services across the country. In Sichanloo, a hamlet 200 kilometers (125 miles) northwest of the capital Tehran, the seven families who live here once relied on gasoline-fueled generators for electricity.

Now, more than two dozen solar panels shine from nearby rooftops. With the flip of a switch, electricity stored in truck-sized batteries from the solar panels lights up the home of Habibollah Kakavand, the father of one of the village’s families.

“In the past, we used gasoline-fueled power generators to meet our electricity needs in the absence of a grid network. It needed fuel plus maintenance, which was costly. It also had a lot of noise and caused pollution,” he said. “But the government has supplied free solar energy. It doesn’t need fuel and has made life comfortable for us.”

Kakavand’s wife Mehri nodded in agreement as she swept the Persian carpets in the house using a vacuum cleaner powered by the solar panels.

Solar has been a hot topic of discussion in Iran, which this year fielded a team of university students to compete in a U.S. solar car contest in July. Mirhadi said the government installed solar panels at some 1,000 locations across Iran, including the rooftops of mosques, schools and government buildings.

Jafar Mohammadnejad, a senior Energy Ministry official, said recently passed laws and incentives encourage domestic and foreign investment in renewable energy projects in Iran. It remains unclear what percentage renewable energy accounts for in Iran’s energy portfolio, though he said officials hope to produce 5,000 megawatts from renewable resources within two years. Fees on electricity bills pay for the expansion.

“Iran is rich in oil, gas and other fossil energy resources. Yet it has opted to turn to renewable energy. This shows Iran’s new strategic energy direction,” Mohammadnejad said.

Although fossil fuel is still supplied to Iranians at subsidized prices, a raise in prices earlier this year — plus a consistent drop in the price of foreign-manufactured solar panels — is making solar power more affordable. Yet challenges remain, officials acknowledge.

“More difficult than installing solar panels,” is changing the habits of people “who have got accustomed to cheap non-solar energy,” said Yusof Armoodli, head of Iran’s renewable energy department.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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