VOA常速英语2007-New Book Claims Clean Energy Industries Create N

By Zulima Palacio
Washington
18 October 2007
 

Two committed environmentalists, including Democratic Party Congressman¹ Jay Inslee of Washington state, are urging the country to create a clean energy economy. They make their case in a new book that cites numerous examples of environmentally friendly businesses already operating successfully in the United States. Producer Zulima Palacio talked to the writers. Jeffrey Young narrates² the story.

Representative Jay Inslee and co-author Bracken Hendricks say developing clean energy technology and halting the effects of global warming is mankind's most important challenge. And as they contend in their new book, "Apollo's Fire, Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy," it makes economic sense, too.

Congressman Inslee told us, "America is poised³ on a new leap on technology and a new leap forward in our economy -- same kind we had in the space race. What we did in the Apollo space project, we believe we can do in the field of clean energy."

President John F. Kennedy initiated⁴ the Apollo space project in 1961, and set a goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. The U.S. did, with months to spare, on July 20th, 1969.

Inslee sits on the House Energy and Commerce committees and has sponsored environmental legislation called the New Apollo Energy Act. He is a vocal⁵ critic of the Bush administration's environmental policy.

He says the private sector⁶ has taken major steps toward clean energy development, creating thousands of new jobs in the process. "The private sector is going to provide most of the economic muscle, if you will, to get this revolution to where it needs to go. But government can provide what I call the road signs. It will be the private sector driving, but the government has an important role as to providing the signals to the economy."

"Apollo's Fire" offers examples of numerous clean energy entrepreneurs -- producers of efficient light bulbs, wind and solar energy and people who operate in simple garages and complex laboratories.

Co-author Bracken Hendricks is the founder⁷ of the environmental group Apollo Alliance. He says, "More importantly, it tells the story of the solutions. People like Felix Kramer, an entrepreneur in California that took a [Toyota] Prius car and transformed it into an electric hybrid⁸."

Another example is a San Francisco television station's cartoon creation promoting energy efficiency: "Lighting⁹ is everything. You might want to use compact fluorescent¹⁰ bulbs. They are cheap and they use less energy."

And there's the story of David Pearse in Silicon¹¹ Valley, California. He is trying to mass produce affordable¹² solar panels that can compete with other home energy sources. He explains, "I'm sort of a serial¹³ entrepreneur. This is my sixth venture-backed company and this is the most exciting market opportunity I've ever been in."

Hendricks adds, "We really look at the crisis of global warming as an opportunity to re-invest in the foundations of our economy, creating new markets, creating new opportunities. And we found that what is really in the midst of a very troubling situation there is tremendous opportunity to do good, to re-build and to restore people's lives."

In fact, as the authors conclude, they had a difficult time keeping up with the pace of innovation while writing the book. They say the accelerated pace of bad news about global warming has created a greater sense or urgency that is spawning¹⁴ innovative¹⁵ and creative solutions.

1 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

2 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

3 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

4 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

5 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

6 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。

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

8 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。

9 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

10 fluorescent   

adj.荧光的，发出荧光的

参考例句：

• They observed the deflections of the particles by allowing them to fall on a fluorescent screen.他们让粒子落在荧光屏上以观察他们的偏移。
• This fluorescent lighting certainly gives the food a peculiar color.这萤光灯当然增添了食物特别的色彩。

11 silicon   

n.硅(旧名矽)

参考例句：

• This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
• A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。

12 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

13 serial   

n.连本影片，连本电视节目；adj.连续的

参考例句：

• A new serial is starting on television tonight.今晚电视开播一部新的电视连续剧。
• Can you account for the serial failures in our experiment?你能解释我们实验屡屡失败的原因吗？

14 spawning   

产卵

参考例句：

• Encounter sites have a small chance of spawning a "Commander" NPC. 遭遇战地区有很小的几率遇到NPC指挥官。
• Instantly revives your Champion at your Spawning Pool, 9 minute cooldown. 立即在出生地复活你的英雄，冷却时间9分钟。

15 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。