查看原文
其他

【9】科技:California to Require Solar Power for New Homes

littleflute 漂泊者乐园 2021-10-06

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

California to Require Solar Power for New Homes

May 16, 2018




In this Oct. 16, 2015 file photo, a solar panel is installed on the roof of the Old Governor's Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)


California has become the first U.S. state to approve plans to require newly built homes to include solar equipment.

The state’s Energy Commission voted 5-0 to approve the new rules, which are to take effect in 2020. The rules will cover most newly built residential buildings up to three stories high.

The move is California’s latest step aimed at reaching renewable energy targets and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

California has set a goal of filling half of its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2030. Officials said they had reached 30 percent by the end of 2017. The state’s Governor, Jerry Brown, plans to hold an international climate meeting in September.

The Energy Commission said the cost of adding solar equipment to a single-family home would be about $9,500. But, the group added that homeowners would save at least $19,000 in energy costs over 30 years.

The rules were approved after getting widespread support from builders, utilitycompanies and solar equipment manufacturers.



These are some of the 206,000 polycrystalline solar panels that make up the 540-acre site solar project in Lamar County near Sumrall, Miss., Wednesday, March 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)


Robert Raymer is the technical director for the California Building Industry Association. He says the action marks a step forward for the wider use of solar power in the U.S. “You can bet every other of the 49 states will be watching closely to see what happens,” he told the Associated Press.

Solar companies praised the new requirements, which officials have said will likely raise demand for solar equipment in California by 10-15 percent.

Tom Werner is head of California-based solar company SunPower. He told Reuters the decision was another example of California environmental policy becoming a model for other states to follow.

The Solar Energy Industries Association called it a “historic decision for the state and the U.S.” It estimated the action would produce “huge economic and environmental benefits,” including bringing tens of billions of dollars into California.

California is already the nation’s number one market for solar equipment sales. At least 5 million homes in the state are estimated to currently use solar power.


California-based company Tesla is marketing a solar roof, which was designed with tiles to look similar to a traditional roof. (Tesla)


But some individuals and groups criticized the new rules.

Some legislative and community leaders argued that Californians cannot afford to pay any more for housing in what is already an extremely high-priced market.

“That’s just going to drive the cost up and make California, once again, not affordableto live in,” said California Assemblyman Brian Dahle.

Severin Borenstein is an energy economist at the University of California, in Berkeley. He sent an email to the head of California’s Energy Commission to urge the state to reconsider its decision.




Looking like a vineyard, 206,000 polycrystalline solar panels make up the 540-acre site solar project in Lamar County near Sumrall, Miss., Wednesday, March 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)


He expressed his belief that it is a mistake for California to approve such a policy instead of centering on efforts to develop large solar farms to produce renewable energy. He said these farms would cost much less to operate.

“Every energy economist I know is shaking their head at this,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “In many ways, this is setting the wrong example,” he added.

I’m Bryan Lynn.


Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

______

Words in This Story


solar – adj. of or relating to the sun

residential – adj. of or relating to the places where people live

renewable – n. any naturally occurring source of energy, such solar or wind

greenhouse gas – n. carbon dioxide and other gases that scientists have linked to rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere

emission – n. something released into the air, such as a gas

utility – n. organization that supplies the public with water, gas, or electricity

bet – v. to think that something will probably or certainly happen

benefit – n. something that helps or gives an advantage

affordable – adj. able to be bought by most people









往期回顾:


【7】科技Storms, Nature Uncover Bones on New York’s Island of the...

【6】科技: Top 10 New Google Features Announced at I/O 2018

【5】科技: Antibiotic Resistance Spreads Quickly from Animals to...

【4】科技:Scientists Observe Birth of Huge Galaxy Cluster 1 hour ago

【3】科技: Facebook Adds Dating App, Launches Oculus Go

【2】科技New NASA Mars Mission Will Study Deep Under Planet’s Surface

【1】科技: Facebook Adds Dating App, Launches Oculus Go


voa 科学技术:Ancient Finger Bone Found in Saudi Arabia is 90,000 ...

voa 科学技术: Organization Urges Young African Scientists to...

voa 科学技术: New Technology Harvests Energy from River and Tidal..


voa 科学技术: Robots Bring Change to Construction Industry


voa 科学技术: Daylight Turns Thin Plastic Barrier into ...

voa 科学技术: Lawmakers Demand Privacy Protection, Raise ...


voa 科学技术: Researchers: Many Black Holes in Center of Milky ...

VOA文化艺术: Hollywood Thriller ‘Unsane’ Filmed Totally on iPhone


voa 科学技术: US Space Agency Expands Search for Distant Planets ...

voa 科学技术: Robots Not Ready to Take Over


New Facebook Tool Provides Information About News Publishers

NASA's Juno Spacecraft Shows the Makeup of Jupiter

voa 科学技术:Scientists: Early Humans Were Not as Simple as One ...



还没听够看够?关注本公众号(漂泊者乐园微信公众号),定期收听收查看各种精彩内容。跑步入场还不晚哦。

(学习交流微信:littleflute)


特别说明:

A. 如果您想收听全部中级美国英语内容,有两种方法:

(1) 在漂泊者乐园微信公众号回复:zjmgyy 

(2)点击左下角的 阅读原文 。

B. 本平台(漂泊者乐园微信公众号)会不定期推送各种各样的在线资源,为了不错过收听查看机会,建议广大亲朋好友们关注本公众号(漂泊者乐园微信公众号)

C. 本平台(漂泊者乐园微信公众号)主要推送以下几类资讯:

(1)各种英语学习资料。

(2)各种音乐学习资料。

(3)各种中国象棋学习资料。

(4)各种计算机学习资料。

(5)各种电子图书。

(6)各种MP3,MP4等音像资源。

D. 本平台(漂泊者乐园微信公众号)诚招合作者。有意者请联系 微信:littleflute。




提示: 
1. 回复  president  可收听查看所有《美国总统》文章。
2. 回复  park          可收听查看所有《美国国家公园》文章。
3. 回复  zjmgyy      可收听查看所有《中级美国英语》文章。
4. 回复  bztl           可收听查看所有 《VOA标准听力》



: . Video Mini Program Like ,轻点两下取消赞 Wow ,轻点两下取消在看

您可能也对以下帖子感兴趣

文章有问题?点此查看未经处理的缓存