The following multi-source documents detail the energy compliance policies and operating r… — GMAT

The following multi-source documents detail the energy compliance policies and operating records for a data center operator.

### Tab 1: Corporate Sustainability Mandate (2026)
Section 4.2 specifies that at least $80\%$ of a facility's adjusted monthly electricity consumption must come from certified renewable sources (such as solar or wind). If utility grid energy exceeds $20\%$ of adjusted total monthly consumption, an immediate penalty fee of $\$50$ per excess megawatt-hour ( $\text{MWh}$ ) of grid energy is assessed.

### Tab 2: June 2026 Operations Log – Northern Facility
- Total electricity drawn: $10,000\text{ MWh}$
- Certified solar energy consumed: $7,200\text{ MWh}$
- Utility grid energy drawn: $2,800\text{ MWh}$
- Recorded non-compliance penalty fee: $\$0$

### Tab 3: Environmental Audit Memorandum
Under Directive 12-B, grid energy drawn during pre-approved peak-alert maintenance windows is exempt from compliance calculations up to a maximum of $1,000\text{ MWh}$ per month. Any exempt energy is subtracted from both the utility grid energy drawn and the total monthly consumption prior to evaluating the $80\%$ renewable threshold.

Which of the following statements, if true, best reconciles the apparent conflict between the general sustainability policy and the $\$0$ penalty recorded for the Northern Facility in June 2026?

During June 2026, the Northern Facility drew $1,000\text{ MWh}$ of grid energy during pre-approved peak-alert maintenance, reducing its adjusted total consumption to $9,000\text{ MWh}$ and making its solar share exactly $80\%$ .Answer
B
The facility calculated its $80\%$ renewable requirement against only the $7,200\text{ MWh}$ of solar energy rather than total energy consumed.
C
The $2,800\text{ MWh}$ drawn from the grid was under an absolute unadjusted threshold cap of $3,000\text{ MWh}$ specified in general operating guidelines.
D
The penalty fee of $\$50$ per MWh is calculated using the total grid consumption as the denominator rather than total energy drawn.
E
The facility offset its excess grid consumption by purchasing carbon credits after the end of June 2026.

Answer

During June 2026, the Northern Facility drew

1,000\text{ MWh}

of grid energy during pre-approved peak-alert maintenance, reducing its adjusted total consumption to

9,000\text{ MWh}

and making its solar share exactly

80\%

The correct answer reconciles the tabs by applying Directive 12-B from Tab 3. Exempting

1,000\text{ MWh}

of peak-alert maintenance reduces total consumption to

9,000\text{ MWh}

and grid energy to

1,800\text{ MWh}

. The solar share becomes

\frac{7,200}{9,000} = 80\%

, which satisfies the

80\%

renewable requirement in Tab 1 and results in a

\$0

penalty.

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the apparent discrepancy across sources.

Unadjusted grid consumption is

2,800\text{ MWh}

out of

10,000\text{ MWh}

(

28\%

), which exceeds the

20\%

limit (

2,000\text{ MWh}

). However, Tab 2 shows a

\$0

penalty.

To resolve the discrepancy, we must find a valid rule from Tab 3 that adjusts the compliance threshold.

Apply the exemption provision in Tab 3 (Directive 12-B).

1,000\text{ MWh}

of grid energy qualifies as exempt peak-alert maintenance, subtract

1,000\text{ MWh}

from total energy (

10,000 - 1,000 = 9,000\text{ MWh}

) and from grid energy (

2,800 - 1,000 = 1,800\text{ MWh}

Tab 3 explicitly states that exempt energy is subtracted from both utility grid energy drawn and total monthly consumption before calculating percentage compliance.

Verify compliance percentage with adjusted figures.

Solar proportion =

\frac{7,200\text{ MWh}}{9,000\text{ MWh}} = 0.80 = 80\%

. Grid proportion =

\frac{1,800\text{ MWh}}{9,000\text{ MWh}} = 0.20 = 20\%

Since the grid energy share does not exceed

20\%

, no penalty fee is assessed, explaining the

\$0

fee in Tab 2.

Key Concept

Discrepancy and Conflict Resolution Between Sources

Question

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

Common Mistakes

Topics

More questions from this topic