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万物都用电, 电从哪里来？
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在过去一年里，电力公司对到2028年将需要多少额外电力的预测数量几乎翻了一番。
双语精读
Something unusual is happening in America. Demand for electricity, which has stayed largely flat for two decades, has begun to surge.
美国正在发生一些不寻常的事情。对电力的需求在二十年内基本持平，现在已经开始激增。
Over the past year, electric utilities have nearly doubled their forecasts of how much additional power they'll need by 2028 as they confront an unexpected explosion in the number of data centers, an abrupt resurgence in manufacturing driven by new federal laws, and millions of electric vehicles being plugged in.
在过去一年里，电力公司对到2028年将需要多少额外电力的预测数量几乎翻了一番，因为它们面临着数据中心数量爆炸式增加、新的联邦法律推动制造业突然再次增长，以及数百万辆电动汽车正在接通电源的情况。
Many power companies were already struggling to keep the lights on, especially during extreme weather, and say the strain on grids will only increase.
许多电力公司为了让电灯亮起已经感到很吃力，特别是在极端天气期间，并表示电网的压力会只增不减。
Peak demand in the summer is projected to grow by 38,000 megawatts nationwide in the next five years, according to an analysis by the consulting firm Grid Strategies, which is like adding another California to the grid.
根据咨询公司“电网战略”的一项分析，未来五年，全国范围内夏季用电高峰需求预计将增加3.8万兆瓦，这就像是让电网再给一个加州供电。
In an ironic twist, the swelling appetite for more electricity, driven not only by electric cars but also by battery and solar factories and other aspects of the clean-energy transition, could also jeopardize the country's plans to fight climate change.
具有讽刺意味的转折是，不仅电动汽车推动了电力需求的不断增长，电池和太阳能工厂以及清洁能源转型的其他方面也推动了电力需求的增长，而这也可能让美国抵抗气候变化的计划面临危机。
To meet spiking demand, utilities in states like Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia are proposing to build dozens of power plants over the next 15 years that would burn natural gas.
为了满足激增的需求，佐治亚州、北卡罗来纳州、南卡罗来纳州、田纳西州和弗吉尼亚州等州的电力公司提议在未来15年内建造数十座通过燃烧天然气而发电的发电厂。
In Kansas, one utility has postponed the retirement of a coal plant to help power a giant electric-car battery factory.
在堪萨斯州，一家电力公司将一座燃煤电厂的退役时间推迟，目的是帮助为一家大型电动汽车电池工厂提供电力。
Burning more gas and coal runs counter to President Biden's pledge to halve the nation's planet-warming greenhouse gases and to generate all of America's electricity from pollution-free sources such as wind, solar and nuclear by 2035.
燃烧更多的天然气和煤炭违背了拜登总统的承诺，即到2035年将美国的温室气体排放量减半，并利用风能、太阳能和核能等无污染能源生产美国所有的电力。
"I can't recall the last time I was so alarmed about the country's energy trajectory," said Tyler Norris, a former solar developer and expert in power systems who is now pursuing a doctorate at Duke University.
“我不记得上一次我对美国的能源发展道路感到如此担忧是什么时候了，”泰勒·诺里斯说，他之前是太阳能开发商和电力系统专家，现在正在杜克大学攻读博士学位。
If a wave of new gas-fired plants gets approved by state regulators, he said, "it is game over for the Biden administration's 2035 decarbonization goal."
他说，如果新一批的燃气发电厂获得州监管机构的批准，那么“拜登政府2035年的脱碳目标就完蛋了”。
词汇预习
additional [高考]
美[əˈdɪʃənl] | 英[əˈdɪʃənl]
adj. 附加的；额外的
giant [高考]
美[ˈdʒaɪənt] | 英[ˈdʒaɪənt]
n. 巨人；巨物；大公司 adj. 巨大的
largely [高考]
美[ˈlɑːrdʒli] | 英[ˈlɑːdʒli]
adv. 大部分；主要地
recall [高考]
美[rɪˈkɔːl] | 英[rɪˈkɔːl]
n. 回忆；取消；召回 vt. 召回；恢复；回想起；唤起；与 ... 相似
explosion [高考]
美[ɪkˈsploʊʒn] | 英[ɪkˈspləʊʒn]
n. 爆炸；爆炸声；激增；爆发
transition [高考]
美[trænˈzɪʃn] | 英[trænˈzɪʃn]
n. 转变；过渡
developer [高考]
美[dɪˈveləpər] | 英[dɪˈveləpə(r)]
n. 开发者；显影剂
greenhouse [高考]
美[ˈɡriːnhaʊs] | 英[ˈɡriːnhaʊs]
n. 温室；暖房
generate [高考]
美[ˈdʒenəreɪt] | 英[ˈdʒenəreɪt]
vt. 产生；发生；引起
retirement [高考]
美[rɪˈtaɪərmənt] | 英[rɪˈtaɪəmənt]
n. 退休；隐匿处
demand [高考]
美[dɪˈmænd] | 英[dɪˈmɑːnd]
n. 要求；需求 v. 要求；查问；需要
data [高考]
美[ˈdeɪtə] | 英[ˈdeɪtə]
n. 数据；资料
nuclear [高考]
美[ˈnuːkliər] | 英[ˈnjuːkliə(r)]
adj. 原子核的；原子能的；核心的
former [高考]
美[ˈfɔːrmər] | 英[ˈfɔːmə(r)]
adj. 前者的；前任的；以前的 n. 创造者；[英]学校某一年级的学生
extreme [高考]
美[ɪkˈstriːm] | 英[ɪkˈstriːm]
adj. 极度的；极端的 n. 极端；极限
analysis [高考]
美[əˈnæləsɪs] | 英[əˈnæləsɪs]
n. 分析；解析
administration [高考]
美[ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃn] | 英[ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃn]
n. 实施；管理；行政；行政部门；任期
federal [高考]
美[ˈfedərəl] | 英[ˈfedərəl]
adj. 联邦制的；联邦政府的；同盟的 n. 联邦主义者；同盟盟友
twist [高考]
美[twɪst] | 英[twɪst]
v. 缠绕；捻；搓；拧；扭曲 n. 拧；捻；扭曲；盘旋；弯曲处
appetite [高考]
美[ˈæpɪtaɪt] | 英[ˈæpɪtaɪt]
n. 食欲；嗜好；欲望
nationwide [高考]
美[ˌneɪʃnˈwaɪd] | 英[ˌneɪʃnˈwaɪd]
adj. 全国性的 adv. 在全国范围内
abrupt [高考]
美[əˈbrʌpt] | 英[əˈbrʌpt]
adj. 突然的；唐突的；意外的；陡峭的
confront [高考]
美[kənˈfrʌnt] | 英[kənˈfrʌnt]
vt. 对抗；遭遇；面临
strain [高考]
美[streɪn] | 英[streɪn]
n. 拉紧；紧张；血统；笔调；（动植物或疾病的）品种 v. 拉紧；劳累；过分使用
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
utility [四级]
美[juːˈtɪləti] | 英[juːˈtɪləti]
n. 效用；实用；公用事业（费）；[计]应用程序 adj. 多效用的；多功能的
pledge [四级]
美[pledʒ] | 英[pledʒ]
vt. 发誓；保证；以 ... 抵押；向 ... 祝酒 n. 保证；抵押；誓言；抵押品
surge [四级]
美[sɜːrdʒ] | 英[sɜːdʒ]
n. 汹涌；波涛；猛增 v. 汹涌；涌起；激增；[海]缆绳滑脱
grid [四级]
美[ɡrɪd] | 英[ɡrɪd]
n. 格子；栅栏；电网；网格；赛车起跑线
counter to [四级]
美[ˈkaʊntɚ tu] | 英[ˈkauntə tu:]
adv. 相反地
jeopardize [六级]
美[ˈdʒepərdaɪz] | 英[ˈdʒepədaɪz]
vt. 危及；使处于危险境地；影响
halve [六级]
美[hæv] | 英[hɑ:v]
v. 平分；减半
manufacturing [专四]
美[ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərɪŋ] | 英[ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərɪŋ]
n. 制造业 adj. 制造业的
according [专四]
美[ə'kɔrdɪŋ] | 英[ə'kɔːdɪŋ]
adj. 相符的；相应的；一致的 v. 给予；符合，一致；正式协议（accord的现在分词）
ironic [考研]
美[aɪˈrɑnɪk] | 英[aɪˈrɒnɪk]
adj. 说反话的；讽刺的
doctorate [考研]
美[ˈdɑktərət] | 英[ˈdɒktərət]
n. 博士学位
重点讲解
Something unusual is happening in America. Demand for electricity, which has stayed largely flat for two decades, has begun to surge.
美国正在发生一些不寻常的事情。对电力的需求在二十年内基本持平，现在已经开始激增。
flat adj. 水平的；无涨落的
【例】a flat fare of ten cents a ride
乘车固定10美分一趟
【近义词】plateau n./v. （增长后）稳定阶段/保持稳定
【例】The rate of inflation has reached a plateau.
通胀率上涨后现在已达到稳定阶段。
Over the past year, electric utilities have nearly doubled their forecasts of how much additional power they’ll need by 2028 as they confront an unexpected explosion in the number of data centers, an abrupt resurgence in manufacturing driven by new federal laws, and millions of electric vehicles being plugged in.
在过去一年里，电力公司对到2028年将需要多少额外电力的预测数量几乎翻了一番，因为它们面临着数据中心数量爆炸式增加、新的联邦法律推动制造业突然再次增长，以及数百万辆电动汽车正在接通电源的情况。
utility n. （水、电、气等）公用事业或公司
【例】Does your rent include utilities?
你的房租里面包括水电费和燃气费吗？
plug sth in 接通电源；把插头插进插座
【例】Is the printer plugged in?
打印机接上电源没有？
【拓展】plug v./n. 堵住洞/插头
Many power companies were already struggling to keep the lights on, especially during extreme weather, and say the strain on grids will only increase.
许多电力公司为了让电灯亮起已经感到很吃力，特别是在极端天气期间，并表示电网的压力会只增不减。
strain n. & v.
1. 作名词：压力；重负
【例】The long working hours put a severe strain on employees.
过长的工作时间让员工压力很大。
2. 作动词：过度使用；使不堪承受
【例】Reading in a poor light will strain your eyes.
在光线不好的地方读书会弄坏你的眼睛。
project v. 预测；预计
【例】The unemployment rate has been projected to fall.
预测失业率将下降。
【近义词】forecast v. 预测
Peak demand in the summer is projected to grow by 38,000 megawatts nationwide in the next five years, according to an analysis by the consulting firm Grid Strategies, which is like adding another California to the grid.
根据咨询公司“电网战略”的一项分析，未来五年，全国范围内夏季用电高峰需求预计将增加3.8万兆瓦，这就像是让电网再给一个加州供电。
strain n. & v.
1. 作名词：压力；重负
【例】The long working hours put a severe strain on employees.
过长的工作时间让员工压力很大。
2. 作动词：过度使用；使不堪承受
【例】Reading in a poor light will strain your eyes.
在光线不好的地方读书会弄坏你的眼睛。
project v. 预测；预计
【例】The unemployment rate has been projected to fall.
预测失业率将下降。
【近义词】forecast v. 预测
In an ironic twist, the swelling appetite for more electricity, driven not only by electric cars but also by battery and solar factories and other aspects of the clean-energy transition, could also jeopardize the country’s plans to fight climate change.
具有讽刺意味的转折是，不仅电动汽车推动了电力需求的不断增长，电池和太阳能工厂以及清洁能源转型的其他方面也推动了电力需求的增长，而这也可能让美国抵抗气候变化的计划面临危机。
twist n. 故事的转折
【例】The disappearance of a vital witness added a new twist to the case.
一名重要证人失踪，令案件出现了新的变数。
【搭配】the twists and turns 波折；曲折
swelling adj. 膨胀的；增加的
【例】the swelling tide 上涨的潮水
the swelling cost 增加的开支
jeopardize v. 危及；危害
【例】He would never do anything to jeopardize his career.
他决不会做任何有损于他事业的事。
【近义词】endanger v. 危害
【拓展】be in jeopardy 处于危险中
To meet spiking demand, utilities in states like Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia are proposing to build dozens of power plants over the next 15 years that would burn natural gas.
为了满足激增的需求，佐治亚州、北卡罗来纳州、南卡罗来纳州、田纳西州和弗吉尼亚州等州的电力公司提议在未来15年内建造数十座通过燃烧天然气而发电的发电厂。
spike n. & v.
1. 作名词：尖状物；尖刺
【例】Ned Stark’s head on a spike
奈德·斯塔克的头颅被插在尖棍子上
2. 作动词：猛增
【例】New orders have spiked in the last two years.
过去两年新订单的数量猛增。
plant n. 发电厂；工厂
【例】a nuclear reprocessing plant
核物质再处理厂
【近义词】factory/mill/-works n. 工厂
【例】a chocolate factory 巧克力工厂
a cotton mill 棉纺厂
a steelworks 炼钢厂
power v. 提供动力；驱动
【例】The plane is powered by a jet engine.
这架飞机由喷气发动机驱动。
In Kansas, one utility has postponed the retirement of a coal plant to help power a giant electric-car battery factory.
在堪萨斯州，一家电力公司将一座燃煤电厂的退役时间推迟，目的是帮助为一家大型电动汽车电池工厂提供电力。
spike n. & v.
1. 作名词：尖状物；尖刺
【例】Ned Stark’s head on a spike
奈德·斯塔克的头颅被插在尖棍子上
2. 作动词：猛增
【例】New orders have spiked in the last two years.
过去两年新订单的数量猛增。
plant n. 发电厂；工厂
【例】a nuclear reprocessing plant
核物质再处理厂
【近义词】factory/mill/-works n. 工厂
【例】a chocolate factory 巧克力工厂
a cotton mill 棉纺厂
a steelworks 炼钢厂
power v. 提供动力；驱动
【例】The plane is powered by a jet engine.
这架飞机由喷气发动机驱动。
Burning more gas and coal runs counter to President Biden’s pledge to halve the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gases and to generate all of America’s electricity from pollution-free sources such as wind, solar and nuclear by 2035.
燃烧更多的天然气和煤炭违背了拜登总统的承诺，即到2035年将美国的温室气体排放量减半，并利用风能、太阳能和核能等无污染能源生产美国所有的电力。
counter to sth 与某物相反
【例】He acted counter to his promise.
他违背了诺言。
【拓展】counterclockwise adv. 逆时针地
“I can’t recall the last time I was so alarmed about the country’s energy trajectory,” said Tyler Norris, a former solar developer and expert in power systems who is now pursuing a doctorate at Duke University.
“我不记得上一次我对美国的能源发展道路感到如此担忧是什么时候了，”泰勒·诺里斯说，他之前是太阳能开发商和电力系统专家，现在正在杜克大学攻读博士学位。
trajectory n. （射体在空中的）轨道；轨迹
【例】The decision was certain to affect the trajectory of French politics.
这个决定肯定会影响法国政治的走向。
be on the upward trajectory 上升走势
pursue v. 追求；致力于
【例】pursue a policy/career/an aim
贯彻政策/追求事业/追求目标
approve v. 批准；通过
【例】My request was approved.
我的请求已被批准。
【近义词】adopt v. 表决通过
【例】The Congress adopted the report.
国会通过了这份报告。
If a wave of new gas-fired plants gets approved by state regulators, he said, “it is game over for the Biden administration’s 2035 decarbonization goal.”
他说，如果新一批的燃气发电厂获得州监管机构的批准，那么“拜登政府2035年的脱碳目标就完蛋了”。
trajectory n. （射体在空中的）轨道；轨迹
【例】The decision was certain to affect the trajectory of French politics.
这个决定肯定会影响法国政治的走向。
be on the upward trajectory 上升走势
pursue v. 追求；致力于
【例】pursue a policy/career/an aim
贯彻政策/追求事业/追求目标
approve v. 批准；通过
【例】My request was approved.
我的请求已被批准。
【近义词】adopt v. 表决通过
【例】The Congress adopted the report.
国会通过了这份报告。
课后练习
What does "something unusual" refer to in the text?
A. The fact that electric utilities have stayed flat.
B. The sudden increase in electricity demand.
C. The doubling of electric utility companies.
D. The resurgence in electric-vehicle manufacturing.
What challenge are power companies facing?
A. The difficulty in maintaining power supply.
B. The need to reduce electricity consumption during summer.
C. The requirement to shift peak demand to other seasons.
D. The problem of coping with the high demand of California.
What does “an ironic twist” mean in the text?
A. The demand is decreasing due to the clean-energy transition.
B. The lack of power has hindered the development of solar factories.
C. Some parts of the clean energy effort have pushed up the burning of fossil fuels.
D. Electric cars and battery factories do not actually consume much electricity.
According to Tyler Norris, what would be the consequence of approving the gas-fired plants?
A. It would increase the country's reliance on renewable energy.
B. It would ensure the achievement of Biden's decarbonization goal.
C. It would make it impossible to generate electricity in a clean way by 2035.
D. It would lead to a decrease in the nation's greenhouse gas emissions.