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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
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 ) | |
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2 zoom | |
n.急速上升;v.突然扩大,急速上升 | |
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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 | |
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4 savings | |
n.存款,储蓄 | |
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5 fanatic | |
n.狂热者,入迷者;adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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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 | |
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7 stimulus | |
n.刺激,刺激物,促进因素,引起兴奋的事物 | |
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8 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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9 incentives | |
激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 ); 刺激; 诱因; 动机 | |
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10 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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11 mid | |
adj.中央的,中间的 | |
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