Environmental Policy Speech:
Premise 1: Critics of the new Clean Energy Bill argue that it will lead to higher energy costs due to the implementation of expensive renewable energy technologies.
Clean Energy Bill--> higher energy cost due to expensive tech.
Premise 2: However, since the bill was passed, not only has the number of renewable energy projects increased significantly, but the average cost of electricity from these sources has been lower than the national average cost of electricity every year.
After CEB, renewable energy ++ and avg cost< national avg.
Conclusion: Thus, it is clear that the Clean Energy Bill has been effective in not only increasing renewable energy usage but also in reducing electricity costs for consumers.
CEB--> increased usage of renewable energy and cost decrease
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument in the policy speech?
Question type: Strengthen
Our answer should support the fact that energy cost will not increase when renewable energy (as part of CEB). This can be that the technology cost will decrease or it will remain constant while the cost for other non- renewable energy sources will increase.(Assuming that both were at comparable level)
Analyzing each options:
(A) The cost of setting up renewable energy projects has decreased globally due to technological advancements over the last five years.
---:As mentioned in the the first premise, critics thought that high energy cost was due to expensive tech innovation. However, since this cost is decreasing, this suggests that electricity cost will also decrease, aligning well with the conclusion. Hence, the correct answer.
(B) Electricity costs were rising at a rate above the national average in the years immediately before the Clean Energy Bill was implemented.
---:This says that costs were rising before CEB but doesn't mention whether CEB led to cost increase,decrease or remaining constant.- Rejected
(C) Some of the renewable energy projects started under the Clean Energy Bill have been discontinued due to technological inefficiencies.
---: Brings in another factor (discontinuation due to tech ineff.) which is irrelevant to the argument. Even if I go as far as to assume that tech inefficiency will lead to discontinuation, I am not sure of how it will directly affect the argument. The cost might increase as many projects will shut down or there can be no change. Rejected.
(D) The average cost of electricity generated from conventional (non-renewable) sources has remained consistently higher than the national average during the same period.
---: Weakener. Rejected.
(E) The price of electricity in areas outside the influence of the Clean Energy Bill has risen due to increased costs of non-renewable energy resources.
---: Non renewable energy cost has risen but we are still not sure if it exceeds the renewable energy sources or not. Hence, rejected.
Posted from my mobile device