VOA标准英语2013--Industry Chiefs See Growing Diversity of US Fuels

 

Industry Chiefs See Growing Diversity of US Fuels

Thanks to a big expansion of natural-gas production here in Texas and several other states, the U.S. energy forecast looks good. But the biggest energy user — transportation — still relies primarily on petroleum¹.

The Chairman and CEO of General Motors, Daniel Akerson, says providing customers with home natural gas fueling stations might help.

"If we thought it would sell the product and make a profit, sure we will do it," he said, cautioning, however, that it's unlikely to happen until the U.S. government backs creation of far more fueling stations nationwide.

"There may have to be some government incentive² to the energy industry to have them build up the necessary infrastructure³," he said. "We cannot control that part of the equation. But we also cannot manufacture without having some surety of infrastructure support."

Because cars and trucks using natural gas are so expensive, the American Petroleum Institute's Chief Economist⁴ John Felmy says any change has to start with large commercial vehicles.

"The higher cost for single-family vehicles are so much above what the price for conventional vehicles is that it is hard to recover the cost," said Felmy. "Now, for fleet operations and heavy duty trucks, I think there is an opportunity there."

Felmy also thinks it makes sense to promote the export of liquefied natural gas to provide producers with an incentive to expand.

"If you look at gas operations around the country right now, you are seeing still an enormous amount of exploratory drilling for gas, but the development drilling has not occurred because of the relatively⁵ low price," he said, explaining that such exports also would cut the U.S. trade deficit⁶, create more jobs and yet have only a minor⁷ impact on the price consumers pay.

But this development is not just good for the United States. Businessmen like Mikhail Smirnov of Russia's Cryogenmash want to sell liquefied natural gas equipment to U.S. companies.

"We are excited about it because it dramatically increases the number of private gas sellers and private customers who will need the gas to be liquefied in small quantities," he said.

And energy officials from many countries are here to learn more about how they can expand their own production.

According to Arsenio Mabote, Chairman of Mozambique's National Petroleum Institute, expanded production, for many nations, is also about fighting poverty.

"By having energy resources — for instance you generate electricity and supply it to the population — that brings development," he said.

Experts say countries around the world are going to need energy from a variety of sources, including oil, gas, coal and renewables to meet demand in the coming decades.

1 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。