Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- quick fix / kwɪk fɪks / (n.) – a solution that seems fast and easy but may not work well or last long
Example:Mark glued his broken shoe as a quick fix, but he knew he would need new ones soon.
- divert / daɪ ˈvɜrt / (v.) – to use or move something for a different purpose or direction
Example:The government is diverting resources from the military to healthcare, hoping to improve hospital services.
- front and center / frʌnt ænd ˈsɛn tər / (adv.) – in a very important or noticeable position
Example:The company’s latest smartphone was front and center in the advertisement, highlighting its new features.
- voracious / vɔˈreɪ ʃəs / (adj.) – very eager or enthusiastic about something
Example:Danny has a voracious desire to learn new languages and practices every day.
- contend / kənˈtɛnd / (v.) – to argue or state something strongly; to say that something is a fact
Example:Many experts contend that learning a second language improves brain function.
Article
Read the text below.
Looking for a quick fix for their fast-growing electricity diets, tech giants are increasingly looking to strike deals with power plant owners to plug in directly, avoiding a long and expensive process of hooking into a fraying electric grid that serves everyone else.
It’s raising questions over whether diverting power to higher-paying customers will leave enough for others and whether it’s fair to excuse big power users from paying for the grid. Federal regulators are trying to figure out what to do about it, and quickly.
Front and center is the data center that Amazon’s cloud computing subsidiary, Amazon Web Services (AWS), is building next to the Susquehanna nuclear plant in eastern Pennsylvania.
The arrangement between the plant’s owners and AWS is the first such to come before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). For now, FERC has rejected a deal that could eventually send 960 megawatts—about 40% of the plant’s capacity—to the data center. That’s enough to power more than a half-million homes.
Big Tech also wants to stand up their centers fast. But tech’s voracious appetite for energy comes at a time when the power supply is already strained by efforts to shift away from planet-warming fossil fuels. Plugging directly into a power plant would take years off their development timelines.
The profit potential is one that other nuclear plant operators, in particular, are embracing after years of financial distress and frustration with how they are paid in the broader electricity markets. Many say they have been forced to compete in some markets against a flood of cheap natural gas as well as state-subsidized solar and wind energy.
Power plant owners also say the arrangement benefits the wider public, by bypassing the costly buildout of long power lines and leaving more transmission capacity on the grid for everyone else.
Susquehanna’s owners say the data center won’t be on the grid and shouldn’t have to pay to maintain it.
But critics contend that the power plant itself is benefiting from taxpayer subsidies and ratepayer-subsidized services, and shouldn’t be able to strike deals with private customers that could increase costs for others.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- If you had the power to approve the Susquehanna-AWS deal, would you approve it? Why or why not? Do you think it’s fair for large companies to get direct access to power, especially if it fulfills their goal to be more eco-friendly? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Do you think everyone should have equal access to electricity, even if it means slower progress for big companies? Why do you say so? What do you think should be the main priority for electricity: homes, schools, or businesses? Why? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Big Tech’s high demand for energy stems from its rapid growth and constant development. In your opinion, should Big Tech companies focus on growth or on managing their energy use better? Why? Discuss.
- Do you agree that companies using large amounts of energy should pay extra to help support the energy grid? Why or why not? How would you feel if your electricity bill went up because of deals between power plants and private companies? Discuss.
