But now a new and powerful factor could change this dismal political equation: shale gas, which is already having an important effect on the United States and its economy. With US natural-gas prices down to just over $4 per million BTU (from $13 just a few years ago), even prudent analysts expect the shale-energy revolution to increase America’s potential economic growth and add as many as two million new jobs.
但如今，一个新的有力因素可能改变这一令人沮丧的政治局面：已经对美国及其经济产生重大影响的页岩气。美国天然及价格已经降到略高于4美元/百万英热（几年前高达13美元），即使是谨慎的分析师也认为页岩能源革命将提振美国潜在经济增长并增加多大200万个新工作岗位。