2007年VOA标准英语-California Governor, Business Leaders Lead Push

By Barry Wood
San Francisco, CA
03 May 2007
 

Today we present the first of a new weekly series of reports called "Searching for Solutions."  The series explores how governments, communities and individuals are trying innovative¹ approaches to address long-standing issues. 

In this segment we look at the problem of global warming and the U.S. state of California's aggressive campaign to develop alternative energy. VOA's Barry Wood reports from San Francisco that businesses in America's most populous² state are investing heavily in solar, wind and other green technologies.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California

Now in his fourth year as governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger has become a passionate³ environmentalist. With the world's seventh largest economy, he says California can be a global leader in reducing carbon emissions⁴.

"We should all make an effort not to pollute our Earth," said the governor.

Scientists say greenhouse emissions are a key factor in climate changes responsible for global warming.  Schwarzenegger has committed California to cutting its emissions 25 percent by the year 2020. That goal is even more ambitious than the European Union's target for the same year.

"California has taken the leadership in taking the entire country beyond debate and denial and to action. As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation,” said Schwarzenegger. “I have proposed that California be the first in the world to develop a low carbon fuel standard that leads us away from fossil fuel."

President Bush maintains that cutting greenhouse emissions nation-wide would hurt the U.S. economy. But some business leaders in California say there is money to be made from clean energy.

Arpad Horvath is an engineering professor at the University of California at Berkeley. "Bay Area venture capitalists are pouring billions of dollars into green technologies. And I think they are very right. This is the wave of the future."

Solar panels and wind turbine are symbols of the future of energy

But will it be sun, wind or something else that replaces coal and oil to make electricity?  In southern California, San Diego Gas and Electric is placing its bet on solar.

"It's exciting,” says Jim Avery, an executive with the utility company. “We're building a major solar thermal⁵ development project. It will be, once it is completed, the largest in the world."

One California venture capitalist calls alternative energy the biggest opportunity of the 21st century. Stephen Levy⁶ of the Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy says investors⁷ are throwing big money at multiple technologies, hoping for a breakthrough.

"And some will win and some won't. Like happened with Google and Yahoo, there must have been ten companies that tried to do that and failed," he says.

Engineering professor Horvath says wind has a bright future. "As fossil fuel prices have risen, wind has actually come up as a viable⁸ technology for electricity. Of course, we can't power our airplanes or cars on wind."

Many Californians are doing their part to combat climate change. There are more hybrid⁹ cars in California than anywhere else in the United States.

San Francisco environmentalist Erik Wolgemuth believes consumers and business are doing more than government in protecting the environment. "Ultimately the private sector¹⁰ is going to drive the innovation. And if there's not a market opportunity, if consumers aren't going to demand it, it won't be there.

While some may perceive the U.S. as a laggard¹¹ in the fight against global warming, what is happening in California suggests change may be on the way.

1 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

2 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

3 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

4 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

5 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

6 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

7 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

8 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

9 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

10 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

11 laggard   

n.落后者；adj.缓慢的，落后的

参考例句：

• In village,the laggard living condition must be improved.在乡村落后的生活条件必须被改善。
• Businesshas to some degree been a laggard in this process.商业在这个进程中已经慢了一拍。