Here's the
official explanation provided by the GMAC for this question:
This sentence presents a comparison between the degree to which one action causes a negative consequence and the degree to which another action causes the same negative consequence. The original version says that the magnitude of the problem caused by one action is
as great or greater than the magnitude of the problem caused by the other action. We say that one thing is as great
as the other, not that it is
as great the other. The phrase needs to be completed with a second
as even if it is followed by
greater than. In this sentence, the comparison can be expressed more efficiently, though, by using the logically equivalent phrase
at least as great as.
Option A: As great or greater than is unidiomatic. The phrase should be
as great as instead of simply
as great.
Option B: As mentioned above,
as great or greater than is unidiomatic. The phrase should be
as great as instead of simply
as great.
Option C: The complex structure
as great as or greater than is slightly more awkward than the logically equivalent phrase
at least as great as.
That cannot plausibly refer to anything except the fuel penalty.
The fuel penalty of using air conditioning does not precisely express the comparison between what is caused by wind resistance and what is caused by using air conditioning.
Option D: This is unidiomatic and imprecise. With this structure, a
ir conditioning’s refers to
air conditioning’s fuel penalty, appearing to say, illogically, that air conditioning has a fuel penalty rather than that it causes a fuel penalty.
Option E: Correct. This expresses the comparison precisely and concisely and does not contain any nonstandard diction or misleading phrasing.
The correct answer is E.
Please note that I'm not the author of this explanation. I'm just posting it here since I believe it can help the community.