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Senate Panel Greenlights Oil Exports, Offshore Drilling, Infrastructure Upgrades

By U.S. News & World Report

It was a big day for energy.

Measures that would end the U.S. oil export ban, ease restrictions on offshore drilling, support energy efficiency and upgrade the nation’s electricity infrastructure won approval from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, clearing a substantial hurdle to head toward full Senate debate.

“Nobody’s getting everything they want, that’s for darn sure, but I do think this is an impressive journey that we have gone down in the past several months,” Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said after the votes.

[READ: In a Twist, GOP Senators Urge Obama to Use Executive Power to Export Oil]

The major bill, the Energy Policy Modernization Act, gives a bit of something to everyone: It would ease the permitting process for natural gas pipelines but also permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports parks and public lands. The measure also buttresses energy-efficiency initiatives and supports some carbon-free energy sources, such as hydropower, but gives little mention to wind or solar — the two fastest-growing sources of green energy today.

Some of the most divisive issues in energy — from stricter environmental protections to an end to the nation’s ban on oil exports — were not included in the bill. It cleared the committee in an 18-4 vote, and if ultimately signed into law, would be the first comprehensive energy reform to get through Congress since 2007.

[ALSO: Mexico Faces Cartel Security Risks in Opening Energy Sector]

“This committee has been too long without moving energy policy legislation,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the committee’s ranking member. She formally introduced the bill with Murkowski last Wednesday. “Today is a very important first step in that process.”

A separate measure that would both lift the nation’s decades-old restriction on exporting crude oil and open restricted parts of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling passed along party lines, with Republican committee members voting in favor 12-10. Murkowski and some Democrats representing oil-heavy states have long sought to repeal the export ban, arguing it would add a powerful lever to American foreign policy as well as shore up domestic oil production and lower gasoline prices.

The vote came less than 24 hours after House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, threw his support behind lifting the ban.

[MORE: Boehner Calls for an End to the Decades-Old Ban on US Oil Exports]

“It would help bring down prices at the pump for consumers, and it would be good for our allies,” Boehner told reporters Wednesday, the House’s last day in session before the August recess. “I would support lifting the ban, and hopefully we can work together in a bipartisan fashion to move our energy policies into this century.”

Opponents, by contrast, say such a move would undercut attempts to rein in heat-trapping carbon emissions and slow global warming by encouraging more oil drilling. Some chemical companies and refineries that buy U.S. crude oil also hope to preserve the ban, which they say has helped suppress prices.

The ban dates to the 1970s and the Arab oil embargo, and was implemented by Congress in an attempt to at least partially insulate the U.S. from volatile global markets. Experts disagree whether the strategy worked as intended: Imports dropped through the early 1980s, only to rise again for the next two decades. Imports began falling again in 2006, largely the result of the U.S. domestic production boom.

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Senate Panel Greenlights Oil Exports, Offshore Drilling, Infrastructure Upgrades originally appeared on usnews.com

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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