1.The clean-energy businessisturning intothe next big investment boom,in whichrisks areoften ignored. Until recently, recalls Charlie Gay,a 30-year veteranof thesolarpowerbusiness, venture capitalistswerefartoobusycatering tocaptains of the information-technologyindustrytowaste time on "hippy-dippy tree-huggers" likehimself. But nowthe tree-huggersarein theascendantandthe IT baronsare busyinvesting in clean-energy technology.
1、清潔能源行業正成為(is turning into;現在進行時態; turn intov.變成)下一輪投資大熱潮(boom),而風險則經常被忽略(areignored)(in which中的which是指the next big investment boom,可譯為:在這場投資熱潮中風險則經常被忽略)。在太陽能行業(the solarpowerbusiness)摸爬滾打了30年的查理·蓋伊回憶說(recall vt. 回想起),直到不久前(until recently),風險資本家們(venture capitalists)還一直奔忙于迎合(cater to)IT行業巨子,沒有時間浪費給像他這樣的“不切實際的環境保護論者(hippy 嬉皮士;dippy 腦筋不正常的;hugger 擁抱者)”。(too +adj. doingsth. to... 太…做某事,以至于不….)但目前環境保護論者(the tree-huggers)風頭正旺(in the ascendant; ascendant 優勢;上升點),IT巨子們(baron n. 大亨;巨頭)開始忙于投資清潔能源行業(investing in clean-energy technology)。
2. Investorsarefalling over themselvestofinancestart-upsin cleantechnology, especially in energy.Venture Business Researchreckonsthat(引導賓語從句)investmentin the fieldbyventure capitalistsand private-equity firmshas quadrupledin the past two years,fromsome $500 min2004to almost $2 billionso farthisyear.Theshare ofventure capitalgoing intoclean energyis risingrapidly.
2、投資者們竭盡全力(fall overoneslef 特別賣力(做某事to do sth.))紛紛投資于從事環保技術的新創公司(finance vt. 供給…經費;start-ups 創新者),特別是能源公司。風險企業研究有限公司估計(reckon vt.),在過去兩年中,風險資本家和私人股本公司(venturecapitalists and private-equity firms)在該領域的投資(in the field)已翻了四倍(quadruple vi. 成為四倍;has quadrupled 現在完成時態),從2004年的5億美元到目前(so far)的近20億美元。進入清潔能源(clean energy)領域的風投資本的比例(share of …的份額;going into…動名詞作定語)正快速攀升(is risingrapidly;現在進行時態)。
3. Clean-energyfeveris being fuelled bythree things(現在進行時的被動語態): high oil prices, fearsoverenergysecurity and a growingconcern aboutglobal warming. Theprovision of energy,the industry's cheerleaders say,willchangeradicallyover the coming decades. Polluting coal andgas-fired power stationswillgive way tocleaneralternativessuch assolar and wind;fuels derived fromplants and wastewillreplace petrol anddiesel; andsmall, local forms of electricity generationwillreplacebig powerstationsfeeding far-flung grids. Eventually, it is hoped,fuel cellsrunning on hydrogenwilltake the place ofthe internal combustion enginewhich is available everywhere. It isabold vision, butifit happens very slowly, oronly toa limited extent, supporters arguethat(引導賓語從句)itwillstill prompt tremendousgrowth for firmsin the business.
3、“清潔能源熱”由三件事情刺激(is being fulledby):髙油價、能源安全(energy security)恐慌以及對全球變暖與日俱增的擔憂(concern about)。該行業的主要支持者(the industry's cheerleaders)認為,能源供應狀況(the provisionof energy)在未來的數十年里將會發生根本性地(radically)改變。導致污染的煤炭發電站和天然氣發電站將讓位于(give way to)更清潔的替代能源(clearner alternatives),如(suchas)太陽能和風能;從植物和垃圾中提取的燃料(fuels derived from plants and waste; derived…現在分詞作定語,修飾fuels)將代替汽油和柴油(diesel);電力供應的小型化、本地化將取代供應大電網(feedingfar-flung grids; 動名詞作定語,修飾big powerstations;far-flung adj. 遙遠的;廣泛的)的大電站。最終(eventually),我們希望氫燃料電池(fuel cells running on hydrogen; 動名詞作定語,修飾fuel cells)能夠代替(take the placeof)無所不在的(which is available everywhere)內燃機(the internal combustion engine)。這是一個大膽的設想(a bold vision),但是,即使進程緩慢,或者范圍有限(only to 結果是),支持者們認為(argue)它仍將激發(prompt)該行業公司的巨大增長(tremendousgrowth)。
4. Analystsconfidentlypredict the clean-energy businesswill growby20%—30%a year for a decade. Jefferies,an investment bankthat(引導定語從句)organizeda recent conferenceon the industry in London, askedparticipantshow soonsolar powerwouldbecome competitivewithold-fashionedgeneration technologies: in 2010, 2015 or 2020. Aboutthree-quartersof those present, one visitorhappily observed,were"check-writers". This "megatrend",thekeynote speakeradvocated, "may be the biggest job and wealth-creation opportunityof the 21st century."
4、分析人士滿懷信心地(confidently)預計在今后10年內(a year for adecade)清潔能源產業將會以年均20—30%的幅度增長(省略that的賓語從句…)。投資銀行“Jefferies銀行”最近在倫敦組織了一場關于清潔能源產業的討論會,在會上他們問與會者(participants):與老式能源技術(old-fashioned generation technologies)相比,太陽能到什么時候(how soon; 多久;多快;多少時間之后;引導賓語從句)才能突顯它的競爭力,2010年、2015年,還是2020年。一位大會來賓欣喜地發現(happily observed;引導賓語從句,that被省略),大約四分之三的與會者(about three-quarters of those present)都是“愿意為此投資者”。大會主要發言人(the keynotespeaker)不由地說(advocate vt. 主張;提供;引導賓語從句,that被省略):“這個大趨勢(megatrend n.mega adj. 許多;宏大的)或許是21世紀最大的就業機會和創富機會。”
5. Suchexaggeration mightremindpeople ofthe dotcom bubble. Butclean-energy advocates insistgrowthis sustainablebecause ofthe likes ofMr.Schwarzenegger. The Governor is a heroin green circlesbecauseofhisenthusiasm forenvironmental regulation. He easily wonreelectionpartly becauseheseizedonglobal warmingasa concernand signed into law—America's first wide-rangingschemetocap greenhouse-gas emissions.
5、如此夸張的景象(such exaggeration)可能會讓人們想起網絡泡沫(the dotcom bubble)。然而,由于像施瓦辛格先生這樣的環保人士(the likes of 像…這樣的人(或事)),使清潔能源提倡者(clean-energy advocates)堅持認為(insist)增長是可持續的(growth is sustainable,省略that的賓語從句)。身為州長的他對環保法規的熱情(enthusiasm for 熱愛…),使他成為環保圈里的英雄(直譯:由于他對環保法規的熱情,使這位管理者成為環保圈里的英雄)。他之所以能輕松連任,部分原因就是他把握住(seize on 抓住;占有)了公眾對全球變暖的憂慮(global warming as a concern),并使之上升為法律(sign into law簽署成為法律),他簽署了美國第一個大規模(wide-ranging)控制(cap vt. 覆蓋)溫室氣體排放(greenhouse-gas emissions)的方案(不定式作定語,修飾scheme; scheme n. 計劃;體制)。
because與because of在用法上的主要區別是:前者后跟一個句子;后者接名詞或名詞性詞組,如動名詞。