How the fight over US datacenters is scrambling this state’s politics: ‘We don’t want it’
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EN: The Present Perfect Tense (has + past participle) is used to describe an action or state that started in the past and has relevance or continues to the present moment. In this sentence, 'has become' shows that the disagreement started in the past and is now currently a hot topic.
The small town has become a popular tourist destination over the last year.
EN: The preposition 'over' is used here to indicate the subject or cause of the disagreement, meaning 'concerning' or 'about'. It connects the noun 'disagreement' to the topic 'datacenters'.
The partners had a serious argument over the company's budget.
EN: Pennsylvania is a key swing state in U.S. politics, meaning local debates over economic development (like datacenters) versus environmental and community concerns often carry significant weight in national political discussions.
EN: The verb 'support' is a transitive verb that is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) when expressing an action that is supported. In this sentence, 'supports building...' functions as the direct object of the verb.
Our company supports implementing flexible working hours for all employees.
EN: The 'to-infinitive' (to + base verb) is used here to express purpose, meaning 'in order to' or 'for the purpose of'. In this sentence, 'to power...' explains the purpose of building new technology infrastructure.
She saved money to buy a new laptop for her college classes.
EN: Governor Josh Shapiro is the current governor of Pennsylvania. The debate over datacenters in Pennsylvania highlights a growing tension in the United States between economic development (driven by the AI boom) and local community concerns regarding environmental impact, energy consumption, and noise pollution.
EN: The present perfect tense ('have pushed') is used here to describe an action that started in the past and has relevance or continues to the present moment. It is formed with 'have/has' + past participle.
Many citizens have voiced their concerns about the new policy.
EN: The phrasal verb 'push back against' means to oppose, resist, or disagree with a plan, idea, or decision.
Local businesses are pushing back against the new tax laws.
EN: Noun clauses introduced by 'how' function as the object of a verb. In this sentence, 'how government policy on technology can divide...' acts as the direct object of the verb 'shows'. Unlike direct questions, noun clauses use statement word order (subject + verb).
The report explains how local businesses can benefit from the new policy.
EN: A relative clause (adjective clause) introduced by 'that' modifies a preceding noun. Here, 'that are affected by these large projects' is a defining relative clause modifying the noun 'communities'.
We need to help families that are affected by the economic crisis.
EN: The relative clause (adjective clause) introduced by 'that' ('that has caused strong reactions') is used to modify the noun 'proposal'. It provides essential information about which proposal is being discussed. 'That' acts as the subject of the relative clause.
The decision that changed my life was made in college.
EN: The present perfect tense ('has caused') is used here to describe an action that happened in the past but has strong relevance and effects that continue into the present moment.
The new policy has created many job opportunities.
EN: Philadelphia, often colloquially referred to as 'Philly', is the largest city in Pennsylvania and holds immense historical significance as the place where the US Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated and signed. The debate over building modern datacenters near historic or sensitive areas (like the former Pennhurst asylum site) highlights the tension between preserving local history/community well-being and driving technological advancement.
EN: Non-defining relative clauses (using 'which') provide extra, non-essential information about a noun. They are separated from the main clause by commas, and 'which' cannot be replaced by 'that'.
The old library, which was built in 1920, is being renovated.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'because of' is used to introduce a reason. It must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, unlike 'because' which is followed by a full clause (subject + verb).
The flight was delayed because of heavy rain.
EN: Pennhurst State School and Hospital in Pennsylvania is a historically significant site in the United States. Opened in 1908 and closed in 1987, it became infamous for the institutional abuse and terrible conditions suffered by its intellectually and physically disabled residents. A landmark exposé in 1968 and subsequent lawsuits led to its closure and played a pivotal role in the deinstitutionalization movement and the growth of the independent living movement for disabled people in the US. Today, its controversial preservation as a commercial haunted house attraction during Halloween coexists with its dark history.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the action is more important than the agent (who did it). Here, 'were turned into' shows that the buildings underwent a change, but who changed them is not the focus.
The old factory was turned into a modern art museum.
EN: Relative Clause with 'that': A defining relative clause used to provide essential information about a noun (here, 'a haunted house attraction'). 'That' acts as the subject of the relative clause.
She bought a book that explains the history of the city.
EN: In the United States, turning historic or abandoned locations (like old prisons, asylums, or hospitals) into commercial 'haunted houses' for Halloween entertainment is a popular autumn business. Pennhurst, the site mentioned in the context, has a controversial history due to past patient abuse, making its transformation into a lighthearted Halloween attraction a subject of local and ethical debate.
EN: The infinitive 'to build' is used as the direct object of the verb 'want'. In English, certain verbs like 'want', 'hope', 'decide', and 'need' are followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to express a desired or planned action.
They want to start the construction project next month.
EN: The relative clause 'that would be powered by methane gas' uses the relative pronoun 'that' to modify the noun phrase 'three large datacenter buildings'. The auxiliary 'would' is used here to express a future plan or potential state from a past or conditional perspective, combined with the passive voice 'be powered by'.
We need a system that would be supported by renewable energy.
EN: The debate over powering datacenters with fossil fuels like methane gas (natural gas) highlights a growing tension in the US. While tech companies rush to expand infrastructure for AI, local communities often object due to environmental concerns, noise, and proximity to residential areas or sensitive facilities like veterans' homes.
EN: The phrase 'be worried about' is a common adjective pattern used to express anxiety or concern about someone or something. 'Worried' acts as a participial adjective, and 'about' is the preposition that introduces the object of concern.
Many parents are worried about their children's heavy use of social media.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a subordinate clause (adverbial clause of reason) that explains the cause or reason for the action or state in the main clause.
EN: In the United States, 'veterans' homes' (or veterans' centers) are specialized facilities that provide long-term care, medical services, and support for military veterans. Because many older veterans may suffer from physical disabilities or psychological conditions like PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), local communities and advocates are often highly protective of these environments, making the proximity of industrial or noisy developments a sensitive political issue.
EN: Appositives (同位語) are nouns or noun phrases placed next to another noun to identify or explain it. In this sentence, 'a 62-year-old resident' is an appositive that provides more information about the subject 'Donald Hyman'. It is set off by commas.
Mr. Green, a high school biology teacher, loves hiking.
EN: Noun clauses (名詞子句) introduced by 'that' function as the direct object of a verb. Here, 'that air pollution from the facility could harm his health' acts as the direct object of the verb 'told' (reporting what was said). The word 'that' is a conjunction and has no semantic meaning of its own.
She told us that the meeting was canceled.
EN: Present Perfect Continuous Tense (has/have been + -ing): Used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing in the present, emphasizing the ongoing process.
She has been studying English for three years.
EN: Phrasal Verb 'recover from': Means to return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength after an illness, injury, or setback.
It took him a long time to recover from the flu.
EN: In English, 'condition' is often used as a polite or clinical euphemism for a chronic illness or medical problem (e.g., 'heart condition' instead of 'heart disease'). It sounds less harsh and is very common in news reporting and daily conversation.
EN: The noun clause introduced by the conjunction 'that' acts as the direct object of the reporting verb 'said'. It contains a complete sentence structure (subject + verb + object) to report what was said.
The doctor said that the patient needed more rest.
EN: The relative clause 'who suffer from...' is an adjective clause modifying the noun 'residents'. The relative pronoun 'who' acts as the subject of the clause.
We should help people who have difficulty walking.
EN: The 'Southeastern Veterans' Center' is a real state-run facility in Pennsylvania providing care for military veterans. Many veterans, especially those who have experienced active combat, suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Sudden or loud noises, such as those from heavy construction and industrial operations, can trigger severe anxiety and flashbacks for individuals with PTSD, which explains the community's strong concern over the datacenter project.
EN: The Simple Present Tense (reflects) is used here to state a general fact, current situation, or ongoing reality. In this sentence, the subject 'The controversy' is third-person singular, so the verb 'reflect' takes the '-s' ending.
The report reflects the current economic challenges in the region.
EN: Prepositional Phrases as Modifiers: The prepositional phrases 'about datacenters' and 'in the United States' act as post-modifiers. 'About datacenters' describes the topic of the 'debate', while 'in the United States' specifies the location of the 'debate' or 'datacenters'.
The discussion about climate change in the meeting was very productive.
EN: The debate over datacenters in the United States highlights the tension between technological advancement (especially the AI boom) and local community concerns. While tech companies and some politicians push for rapid infrastructure development to maintain economic competitiveness, local residents often worry about environmental impacts, high energy consumption, noise pollution, and the strain on local resources.
EN: The conjunction 'as' is used here to mean 'while' or 'at the same time that', showing that two actions happen together, often with a sense of gradual change or development.
As the weather gets colder, more people start to drink hot tea.
EN: The comparative structure 'more and more' is used before nouns to describe a continuously increasing quantity of something.
More and more students are using tablets for learning.
EN: The 'artificial intelligence boom' refers to the rapid expansion of AI technologies like ChatGPT since late 2022. This technological shift has created an unprecedented global demand for physical infrastructure, specifically datacenters, which require massive amounts of electricity and water cooling, leading to localized debates over environmental impact and community resources.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have + past participle) is used here to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past, but has a strong relevance or effect on the present situation.
The local residents have voiced their concerns to the government.
EN: The word 'that' introduces a noun clause functioning as the direct object of the verb 'said'. This clause contains a complete sentence ('they do not want...') and explains exactly what was said.
She said that the project would bring too much noise.
EN: This sentence reflects the growing 'NIMBY' (Not In My Back Yard) phenomenon in the United States. While many people support technological advancement and green energy in theory, they often strongly oppose having large industrial facilities, such as datacenters or power plants, built close to their residential neighborhoods due to concerns over noise, pollution, and quality of life.
EN: The preposition 'by' followed by a gerund (verb-ing) is used to show the method or means by which an action is performed. It answers the question 'how?'.
She improved her English by watching movies.
EN: Direct speech is used to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is enclosed in quotation marks and typically introduced by a reporting verb like 'say' or 'tell'.
He closed the meeting by saying, "Thank you all for coming."
EN: The phrase "We don't want it" is a direct and powerful expression of grassroots opposition. In American local politics, residents often organize under the banner of NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard), expressing that while certain infrastructures (like datacenters or power plants) might be necessary, they should not be built close to their homes due to health, environmental, or noise concerns.
EN: Passive Voice with Infinitive (is expected to + verb): This structure is used to express expectations or predictions about future events. 'Is expected' is the passive verb, and 'to shape' is the infinitive that indicates the action expected to happen.
The new technology is expected to improve our daily lives.
EN: Time Expression 'for years to come': This idiomatic phrase is used to refer to a period of time extending far into the future, meaning 'in the future' or 'for many years ahead'.
This decision will affect the company's growth for years to come.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A subject that many people are talking about and that often causes strong opinions or disagreement.
To oppose or resist a plan, decision, or change.
A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
A large group of networked computer servers typically used by organizations for the remote storage, processing, or distribution of large amounts of data.