Will California Ban Gas-Powered Equipment?

Will California Ban Gas powered Equipment?

According to KSBY News , gas-powered lawn equipment could be facing a statewide ban from California lawmakers.

While plenty of cities in the state have already put bans in place on the local level, state regulators continue to look for ways to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. A move to ban gas-powered OPE on the state level is being considered, and it’s got some landscapers concerned about their future.

Jeremy Kincaid, owner of Kincaid’s Landscape Care in California’s Central Coast, has used gas-powered equipment for the last 22 years.

“This is our livelihood. This equipment is what makes my business work,” he says.

But, the equipment that “makes business work” for many across the state of California also has a negative impact on the environment, particularly when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions.

According to the California Air Resources Board, using a gas-powered lawnmower for an hour produces the same amount of air pollution as driving a Toyota Camry from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

The potential ban could force all Californians to make the switch to battery-powered OPE, but the switch can put a burden on professionals. Battery-powered equipment is not only expensive to purchase, but some professionals have also expressed concerns over their power and runtimes when compared to gas power.

With the ban on gas power looming, Kincaid is not optimistic about whether his business could recover from the switch to electric power.

“I would lose accounts, I would start losing business, it would put on a big damper. It would probably put me out of business,” he said.

Another solution, Kincaid suggests, is not an all-out ban. Rather, he would prefer lawmakers to consider allowing engines that produce lower emissions.

“I think that these companies that create [outdoor power equipment] – Stihl, Husqvarna, etc. – can actually make these [tools] run on lower emissions like they do a car.”

At this point, the gas-power ban looks like it’s still in the development stages. But, there are those who see a government-mandated shift to electric power as an inevitability. John Knudsen of Knudsen Gardening and Landscaping says, “We’ve got electric cars already. It is going to happen. I mean, it’s already happening so I’m ready for it.”

Whether the ban is avoidable or inevitable remains to be seen for the time being, but we’ll keep you apprised of the situation as we continue to learn more. In the meantime, let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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