The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant

May 3, 2026, 15:15
USEnvironment

Introduction

The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant is in the Mojave Desert. People are worried about its cost and the environment.

Main Body

The US government gave the plant a lot of money. Now, other solar tools are cheaper and better. The plant still owes money to the government. Birds fly into the hot light and die. Tortoises also lose their homes. The plant uses gas every morning, so it makes bad air pollution. Some leaders want to close the plant. But California leaders say the plant is important for electricity. They do not want to waste the buildings.

Conclusion

The plant is still open, but many people disagree about it.

Learning

🔍 Focus: 'Comparing things'

In the text, we see how to describe things that are more or less than others. This is a key skill for A2 level.

The Pattern: Word + -er →\rightarrow Better/Cheaper

Examples from the text:

  • Cheaper (Less money than before)
  • Better (Higher quality than before)

Simple Guide: If a word is short, just add -er to the end to compare two things.

  • Small →\rightarrow Smaller
  • Fast →\rightarrow Faster
  • Cheap →\rightarrow Cheaper

💡 Useful Word Pairs

Look at how the text connects ideas:

ActionResult
Birds fly into light →\rightarrow They die
Use gas →\rightarrow Bad air pollution

Vocabulary Learning

money
Money is a medium of exchange used to buy goods and services.
Example:I need money to buy a new book.
government
The government is the group of people who run a country.
Example:The government will decide what to do about the new law.
cost
Cost is the amount of money needed to buy something.
Example:The cost of the concert tickets is high.
environment
The environment is the natural world around us.
Example:We should protect the environment by recycling.
solar
Solar means related to the sun.
Example:Solar panels use sunlight to make electricity.
power
Power is the ability to do something or to control something.
Example:The power of the wind is used to turn turbines.
plant
A plant is a factory that makes or processes goods.
Example:The new plant will produce clean energy.
hot
Hot means having a high temperature.
Example:The desert is very hot during the day.
light
Light is the natural agent that makes things visible.
Example:The light from the sun helps plants grow.
air
Air is the invisible mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth.
Example:Clean air is important for our health.