Question Statement:
Critics argue that solar irrigation pumps will lead to catastrophic aquifer depletion because running costs are zero. How does the author REFUTE this objection in the passage? 'While zero marginal pumping costs indeed pose a depletion risk, this is readily countered by installing smart IoT meters linked to a grid feed-in tariff, which creates a financial incentive for farmers to sell surplus solar power back to the grid rather than wastefully pumping water.'
Options:
- (A) By demonstrating that selling surplus power to the grid financially incentivizes farmers not to pump water wastefully.
- (B) By denying that aquifers can ever be depleted.
- (C) By asserting that solar panels do not work on hot days.
- (D) By recommending a complete ban on solar irrigation.