(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Some US Cities Move to Limit Natural Gas Use
Cities in the American states of California, Washington and Massachusetts are considering bans or limits on the use of natural gas in homes and buildings.
The bans, if approved, could affect heating systems in large buildings and even cooking stoves in homes.
In July, Berkeley, California, became the first U.S. city to pass a law banning gas systems in new buildings.
Reuters news agency spoke with local officials, activists and industry groups about the issue. They told Reuters other cities may soon do the same. Los Angeles and Seattle are among the cities considering laws that could cut natural gas use.
Local officials and environmentalists point to evidence that gas leaking from pipes and other places hurts the climate more than carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide gas is released when carbon-based fuels are burned. Carbon dioxide is considered a heat-trapping gas that causes the Earth's atmosphere to warm.
A "bridge fuel" to cleaner energy
Until recently, many environmentalists considered natural gas to be a "bridge fuel" to a future of renewable energy.
U.S. utilities currently get about 35 percent of their electricity from natural gas. However, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) notes that utilities have increased their use of renewable fuels in the past 10 years, from 9 to 17 percent of all power.
The Environmental Protection Agency says buildings and homes produce about 12 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.
If natural gas bans in buildings become widespread, they could hurt the business plans of some of the world's biggest energy companies.
Companies like Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP are investing billions of dollars to produce and ship more natural gas. Big gas producers argue that gas improves the environment by replacing fuels, such as coal, that pollute more.
Natural gas companies oppose bans. They have started an advertising campaign and supported research that says gas is a better cooking fuel and a low-cost energy option.
"We are trying to get ahead of it," said Stuart Saulters, the Director of Government Affairs of the American Public Gas Association. He added that he thought there was a chance that the push for bans could grow larger.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) represents the U.S. oil and gas industry. The API rejects claims that natural gas is bad for the environment.
API spokesman Reid Porter said that the industry is limiting methane emissions with improved technology. He pointed to data from the Environmental Protection Agency showing a decrease in recent years.
Seattle City Council Member Mike O'Brien is working on a law that could ban gas hookups in new buildings. The fuel, he said, "is odorless and invisible but has a huge impact on the climate."
In July, a group called Californians for Balanced Energy Solutions held a press conference. The group was formed by Sempra Energy which owns a gas company. The group invited Southern California restaurant owners who use gas stoves.
Charles Lu, who took part in the event, owns a Chinese restaurant chain. "We need instant, really strong fire," he said. "Otherwise, I think it will kill the business."
Wealthier homeowners may also resist electrification of kitchens and fireplaces, said Nic Dunfee of the environmental advising business TRC Companies.
He told a recent meeting of California energy officials that home builders are pushing back against proposed laws requiring electric stoves.
"They don't feel that they are able to sell a home that doesn't have natural-gas cooking," he said.
I'm John Russell.
And I'm Anne Ball.
重点解析
1.natural gas 天然气
Coal is to be displaced by natural gas and nuclear power.
煤炭将让位于天然气和核能。
2.press conference 新闻发布会
This afternoon the Palestinians held an impromptu press conference.
今天下午巴勒斯坦方面临时召开了记者招待会。
3.Carbon dioxide 二氧化碳
Industrialized countries must reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
工业化国家必须减少二氧化碳的排放。
4.heating systems 供暖系统
Our heating systems are designed not only for temperature control, but to also manage moisture and ventilate toxic fumes.
我们的供暖系统不仅仅设计用于控制温度，而且还可以管理湿度和通风。
5.The API rejects claims that natural gas is bad for the environment.
be bad for 对...不利
Caffeine is bad for your health.
咖啡因对人体健康有害。
A passion for cooking does not necessarily have to be bad for your waistline.
热衷于做菜并不一定会导致腰围增粗。
6.He told a recent meeting of California energy officials that home builders are pushing back against proposed laws requiring electric stoves.
pushing back against 抵制；反击
But we will be doing everything we can to push back against these very powerful economic forces.
我们将尽自己的一切所能，减少这些经济力量带来的影响。
Mr Lamy said governments had to "keep pushing back" against populist protectionist pressures.
拉米表示，各国政府必须“坚持抵制”民粹保护主义压力。
参考译文
美国多个城市开始限用天然气
美国加州、华盛顿州和马萨诸塞州的城市正考虑禁止或限制在住宅和建筑物内使用天然气。
如果该禁令获得批准，可能会影响到大型建筑物的供暖系统，甚至居民家中的炉灶。
今年7月，加州伯克利市成为美国第一个立法禁止新建筑物内安装天然气系统的城市。
路透社就此问题采访了当地官员、活动家以及业内组织。他们对路透社表示，其它城市可能很快效仿。洛杉矶和西雅图等城市都在考虑立法减少天然气的使用。
当地官员和环保人士指出，有证据表明，从管道和其它地方泄露的天然气对气候的伤害远超二氧化碳。
当碳基燃料燃烧时会释放二氧化碳。二氧化碳被认为是一种导致地球大气变暖的吸热气体。
清洁能源的过渡性燃料
一直到现在，很多环保主义者都认为天然气是未来可再生能源的过渡性燃料。
美国公共事业公司目前大约35%的电力来自于天然气。然而，美国能源信息管理局（EIA）指出，公共事业公司过去10年提高了可再生燃料的利用，从占所有电力的9%提升至17%。
美国环境保护局表示，建筑物和住宅产生了美国大约12%的温室气体排放。温室气体是指大气中的吸热气体。
如果建筑物内的天然气禁令推广后，可能会伤害一些全球大型能源公司的商业计划。
埃克森美孚、壳牌和英国石油等公司正投资数十亿美元生产和运输更多的天然气。大型天然气生产商认为，天然气通过替代煤炭等污染更大的燃料改善了环境。
天然气公司反对禁令。他们发起了一场广告宣传活动，并支持了一项声称天然气是一种更好烹饪燃料和低成本能源选择的研究。
美国公共天然气协会政府事务主任斯图尔特·绍尔特斯表示：“我们要防患未然。”他补充说，他认为禁令的力度有可能会加大。
美国石油协会代表着美国石油和天然气产业。该协会否认了天然气对环境有害的说法。
美国石油协会发言人里德·波特（Reid Porter）表示，该行业正通过改进技术来限制甲烷排放。他指出，美国环境保护局的数据显示，近年来甲烷排放有所下降。
西雅图市议会议员麦克·奥布赖恩正在制定一项法律，禁止新建筑物安装天然气管道。他说，天然气“无形无味，但是对气候影响巨大。”
今年7月，一家名为“加州能源平衡解决方案”的组织举行了一场新闻发布会。该组织由桑普拉能源公司成立，该公司拥有一家天然气公司。该组织邀请了使用燃气灶的南加州餐馆老板。
出席这一活动的查尔斯·卢拥有一家中餐连锁店。他表示：“我们需要迅猛、强大的火力，否则我们就等着关门了。”
环境咨询公司TRC的尼克·邓菲表示，富裕的房主可能也会抵制厨房和壁炉电气化。
他最近在加州能源官员的一次会议上表示，房屋建筑商开始抵制要求安装电炉的法律提案。
邓菲说：“他们觉得不安装天然气灶具的房子会滞销。”
约翰·罗塞尔为您播报。
安妮·波尔为您播报。
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