A municipal transit authority recently introduced electric buses on city routes to reduce urban air pollution. City officials claim that expanding this electric bus fleet will significantly improve overall air quality in the downtown area over the next two years. However, critics point out that generating electricity for these buses relies on nearby coal-fired power plants.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the city officials' claim?
- The coal-fired power plants operate with advanced filtration systems that emit significantly fewer pollutants per unit of energy produced than conventional gasoline-powered buses.Answer
- BElectricity demand from the expanded electric bus fleet will force the coal power plants to operate at maximum capacity, increasing total coal emissions by 15 percent.
- CSeveral neighboring municipalities are considering replacing their diesel-powered maintenance vehicles with hybrid trucks.
- DCommuters who ride the electric buses report higher overall customer satisfaction compared to those riding older bus models.
- EReducing urban air pollution is listed as the primary goal in the city's long-term environmental planning vision document.
Answer
Power generation for electric buses produces significantly fewer emissions per unit of energy than conventional gasoline buses emit.
The city officials claim that expanding the electric bus fleet will improve downtown air quality, but critics raise concern about the emissions from coal-fired power plants supplying the electricity. The statement that coal plants produce significantly fewer emissions per unit of energy than conventional buses directly resolves the critics' objection, proving that replacing old buses with electric ones creates a net reduction in pollution.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Strengthening an argument by neutralizing a counter-argument and establishing net benefit