VOA标准英语2009年-Federal Stimulus Funds Give A Boost To US

By Laurel Bowman
Washington
22 October 2009 

As jobs disappear across the United States, advocates of solar energy say their industry can employ hundreds of thousands. But analysts¹ say that to establish a hold on the world market, the U.S. must catch up fast.

 
Rhone Resch
Every day, Rhone Resch and his wife Lisa track the electricity they use at home. 

"On my phone I can zoom² in and get a close-up to see how much electricity we are producing... we have had a pretty good day so far."

Resch even tracks his electricity use when he's not at home. "And I can do this from any computer or any cell phone in the world," he states, "So when I am at work, I have the ability to check out and make sure my solar system is producing the way I expect it to."

A few years back, this Washington, D.C. homeowner installed 36 solar panels on his roof. They generate almost 100 percent of his family's electricity.

The system cost about $35,000, but Resch got almost $19,000 back in local rebates³ and a federal tax credit.

 
Rhone Resch installed 36 solar panels on his roof
With almost $100 a month in electricity savings⁴, Resch says his system is a money saver. "We want to reduce our dependency on foreign energy sources, and in this case we are growing our energy right here. It's on our roof," he explains, "It really does not get more American than that."

Resch is a solar fanatic⁵. He leads the U.S. solar industry's lobbying group. He says solar can provide hundreds of thousands of jobs for U.S.workers. "And these are high quality jobs. These are electricians and plumbers⁶ and roofers, carpenters. Those who have been let go by the housing industry can find jobs in the solar energy industry," he said.

On this day, workers in Virginia are building a solar energy system on this new homeless shelter. It has energy efficient appliances throughout.

The federal stimulus⁷, passed by Congress this year, is funding the project. In the stimulus, $80 million are earmarked for clean energy investments.

Jim Pierobon is a vice⁸ president of Standard Solar, which installs solar panels. "The incentives⁹ at the federal, state and local level are literally¹⁰ bringing buyers almost out of the woodwork I shall say…" he said.

Pierobon says his company has grown from 15 employees in mid¹¹ 2008 to almost 75 today.

But in the past decade, the U.S. has fallen behind its fiercest solar competitors, Germany, Japan and China, according to industry analysts.

Resch calls for greater tax incentives and low cost loans for businesses investing in solar, so the industry can charge ahead much like U.S. Internet companies did in the 1990s.

"We invented this technology. It's a God-given right to make sure that the jobs are created here in the United States," he said.

The solar industry supplies less than one percent of American electricity today. But green tech watchers say the potential is as real as the sun is shining.

 

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

3 rebates   

n.退还款( rebate的名词复数 )；回扣；返还（退还的部份货价）；折扣

参考例句：

• The VAT system offers advantages, such as rebates on exports. 增值税有其优点，如对出口商品实行回扣。 来自辞典例句
• In more recent years rate rebates have been introduced for households. 近年地方税的减免已适用于家庭。 来自辞典例句

4 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

5 fanatic   

n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的

参考例句：

• Alexander is a football fanatic.亚历山大是个足球迷。
• I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.我不是宗教狂热分子，但我是基督徒。

6 plumbers   

n.管子工，水暖工( plumber的名词复数 )；[美][口]（防止泄密的）堵漏人员

参考例句：

• Plumbers charge by the hour for their work. 水管工人的工作是以小时收费的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Plumbers, carpenters, and other workmen finished the new house quickly. 管道工、木工及其他工匠很快完成了这幢新房子。 来自辞典例句

7 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

10 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

11 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。