How do i find the meaning ?

Question

United Energy recently invested in a series of large windmills which are able to produce renewable energy with minimal negative effect to the environment. The company has not drilled oil wells in the same area, even though greater revenues and profits could be generated from oil wells. Because any drilling would disrupt the native habitat of certain marine species in the area, some environmentalists assert that, by foregoing this drilling, United Energy has established that it places environmental impact over financial returns. However, United Energy may be acting in a manner consistent with its financial goals. Recent patterns of increasing annual hurricane activity have some experts questioning the long-term viability and profitability of oil wells in the area.

see the line "...United Energy has established that it places environmental impact over financial returns..."

what it means ? .....how do i find the meaning ? i searched for the meaning of "place over" but found nowhere.

and also see this line ...."Because any drilling would disrupt the native habitat of certain marine species in the area, some environmentalists assert that, by foregoing this drilling"

some environmentalists assert what ? ...does it pointing to the previous clause(i.e Because any...area ) or the post clause (i.e by foregoing this drilling )?

Answer 1

"...United Energy has established that it places environmental impact over financial returns..."

It means UE considers more important the environmental impact than the financial returns.

The second paragraph can be changed like this:

"Some environmentalists assert that because any drilling would disrupt the native habitat of certain marine species in the area, United Energy has established that it places environmental impact over financial returns. "

It points to the previous clause.

Answer 2

Rather than making alot of money from oil drilling. They are willing to use wind energy even if they dont make near as much money from it.

Answer 3

To place environmental impact over financial returns means that they care more for the environment than for the profits they can make.

On the second question, the paragraph refers to the previous clause, although I would say it is not very well written.

Answer 4

the passage was written by non-native English speaker, possibly Chinese (it's not an attempt of violation, i can see it from the sentence structures)

United Energy has established that it places environmental impact over financial returns..."

=

UE believes that the environment protection is more important than money... place over = put over

Because any drilling would disrupt the native habitat of certain marine species in the area, some environmentalists assert that, by foregoing this drilling, United Energy has established that it places environmental impact over financial returns.

here we have this horrible mistake with the structure

1) using Because

(rule - never use "Because...", it's either

"Because of..."

or

"... because ..." )

2) double that

environmentalists assert that United Energy has established that

the right version would be:

As far as any drilling would disrupt the native habitat of certain marine species in the area, some environmentalists assert that, by foregoing WITH this drilling, United Energy places environmental impact over financial returns.

some people tend to make sentences overcomplicated

they misbelief it gives them more "face"

Oops and it has almost slipped out fo my sight... this forego can't be used here... because "The company has not drilled", they built wind mills instead... so the last part of the sentence doen't coincide with the first part of the passage

and this one

Recent patterns of increasing annual hurricane activity have some experts questioning the long-term viability and profitability of oil wells in the area.

Recent patterns of increasing annual hurricane activity make some experts question the long-term viability and profitability of oil wells in the area.

and it should probably be

viability and profitability of WIND-MILLS in the area.