西半球国家能源一体化(1/2)

英语自学网

西半球国家在民主和繁荣上已迈进一大步，但在能源问题上仍存在问题，解决能源问题实现能源一体化刻不容缓。
        Hints:
Western Hemisphere
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
Wendy Sherman
Caribbean
Connecting the Americas 2022 或 Connect 2022
Mexico
Colombia
Dominican Republic
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机构名称大写
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The nations of the Western Hemisphere have made major strides toward greater opportunity, democracy and prosperity. However, said Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, costly and unreliable supplies of energy prevent millions of people in the region from enjoying the full benefit of these important improvements.
"Central America and much of the Caribbean pay very high prices for electricity – ranging from two to five times what we pay here. Expensive electricity hurts competitiveness, undermines investment, slows job growth, and ultimately undercuts the welfare and security of households."
That is why the U.S. is committed to promoting regional electricity integration. One example of this commitment is Connecting the Americas 2022, or Connect 2022, a hemispheric initiative under the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas that seeks to provide all citizens of the hemisphere with access to reliable, clean, and affordable electricity through an increased electrical interconnection.
Recently, the Inter-American Development Bank and the U.S. Department of State hosted talks supporting Connect 2022. During the meeting, Energy, Finance, Environment and Foreign Ministers from Central America, Mexico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic discussed the Central American System for Electrical Integration Project, which connects Central America's national power grids to create a regional market of 37 million consumers.西半球国家朝着更富机会、更加民主与繁荣的目标迈进了一大步。但是，负责政治事务的副国务卿温迪·谢尔曼说，既昂贵又供给不足的能源使该地区数百万人无法充分享受到这些重大成就所带来的福利。
“中美和加勒比海的大部分地区电价昂贵——相当于我们这里的二至五倍。高昂的电价降低了竞争力，打击了投资，减缓了工作岗位的增加，而且最终削弱了每家每户的福利及安全保障。”这就是美国致力于地区电力一体化的原因。其一便是2022年美洲互联计划，或2022互联。这是由半球国家在美洲国家能源与气候合作计划框架下发起的，该计划通过扩展电网覆盖面，为西半球的全体民众提供稳定清洁、价格亲民的电能。
近来，泛美开发银行和美国国务院以主持会谈，促进2022互联计划。会上，来自中美、墨西哥、哥伦比亚和多米尼加共和国的能源、金融、环境和外事部长们就中美电力一体化项目系统展开了讨论。该项目将把中美各国家的电网连接起来，营造了一个为三千七百万地区用户服务的电力市场。