VOA标准英语2012--US Navy Presses Forward with Biofuels

 

US Navy Presses Forward with Biofuels

Going green

The U.S. Navy has a special message this year at the Rim¹ of the Pacific exercises bringing together the navies of more than 20 nations off the Coast of Hawaii: It is time to turn green.

Joining the vessels² is what the U.S. Navy calls its Great Green Fleet of warships³ powered by fuel from renewable sources like algae⁴, grass, and animal fat.

Over the last few months, the navy has been showcasing how biofuels can transform the military and eventually lead what Navy Secretary Ray Mabus hopes will be a transition away from energy sources in unstable⁵ parts of the world.

“The main reason we are moving toward alternative energy in navy marine⁶ corps⁷ is to make us better war fighters, is to reduce our vulnerability on imported fossil fuel," he stated. "(To) Make sure we have energy security and energy independence in the United States military, United States Navy." 

Converting Navy's fleet, biofuels

The Obama administration wants half the Navy’s fleet to convert to biofuels by 2020 and become a major force in the development of the biofuels market - much in the same way the military in the past has served as the developer of technologies such as GPS, computers, and cell phones.

“The Air Force is aiming to get half of its domestic jet fuel from alternative sources by 2016. And I’m directing the Navy and the Department of Energy and Agriculture to work with the private sector⁸ to create advanced biofuels that can power not just fighter jets, but also trucks and commercial airliners,” said U.S. President Barack Obama.

Cost effective

But with each gallon of biofuel costing $26 compared to less than $4 that conventional fuel does, there is plenty of opposition⁹ from members of Congress who say it is a waste of money at a time when the Pentagon faces deep budget cuts.

“It’s going to be more expensive to get these biofuels and it doesn’t provide any operational improvement," said David Kreutzer who is energy analyst¹⁰ at the Heritage Foundation. "That is it’s not denser¹¹ energy. It has to be drop in fuel. We could be getting more fuel from domestic production much more cheaply instead of diverting resources in the navy towards biofuels, we could use them for equipment and material and personnel.”

Efforts to convert the Navy are well under way. The U.S.S. Makin Island, the Navy’s first hybrid¹² amphibious assault ship has just completed its maiden¹³ voyage.

The green message has also been carried by the Navy’s famous Blue Angels seen demonstrating the power of biofuels at a recent air show. 

With money in short supply at the military, biofuels - for now - may be only for show. 

1 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

2 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

4 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

5 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

6 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

8 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。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 denser   

adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• As Tito entered the neighbourhood of San Martino, he found the throng rather denser. 蒂托走近圣马丁教堂附近一带时，发现人群相当密集。

12 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。

13 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。