A bill introduced by Assemblymembers Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) and Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) would phase out new gas-powered small off-road engines (SORE).
These types of engines are primary used in lawn and garden equipment, including leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and other outdoor power equipment. AB 1346 would require new sales of SORE to be zero-emission by 2024 or whenever the California Air Resources Board (CARB) determines is feasible, whichever is later.
There is nothing in the bill that prevents people from buying these types of engines online or purchasing them from another state and bringing them to California.
However, Berman stated that a leaf blower puts out more air pollutants than driving a vehicle from one city to another.
“Today, operating the best-selling gas-powered commercial leaf blower for one hour emits air pollutants comparable to driving a 2017 Toyota Camry from Los Angeles to Denver,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman. “Smog-forming emissions from small engines will surpass those from passenger vehicles this year. We must look beyond transportation if we are to achieve the emissions reductions needed to fight climate change and improve air quality and health in our communities.”
SORE are engines that produce 25 horsepower or less, but emit high levels of air pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reactive organic gases (ROG), and particulate matter (PM), which adversely affect air quality and human health. By 2031, NOx and ROG emissions from SORE are projected to be twice those from passenger cars. AB 1346 will mitigate the negative environmental and health consequences that result from SORE.
“It’s time to phase out these super polluters. They’re not only bad for our environment, but can cause serious health issues for workers who utilize them every day,” Assemblywoman Gonzalez (D-San Diego) said. “We can and must help small landscaping businesses replace their gas-powered equipment with cleaner alternatives.”
AB 1346 directs CARB to develop cost-effective and technologically feasible regulations to phase out the sale of new gas-powered SORE by 2024 or whenever the board determines is feasible. The bill also requires CARB to make funding available for commercial rebates to support the transition to zero-emission SORE.
4 comments
There will be lots of unintended consequences if this is done. But that’s never stopped our loony legislature, has it? A better proposal than an outright ban would be to improve such small engines instead.
Electric leaf blowers are more expensive so this “bill” is more of an excuse to fill the pockets of “said” companies while forcing landscaping companies to shell out more money for equipment they already have. Goo riddance, all these crony politicians are the reason why I’m leaving California in a few months. Sad sad state it has become. The weather is good but the rest is worse than many third world countries.
Actually, the weather is not that good. Years of drought don’t help. The state cannot really accommodate 40,000,000 people without very strong restrictions on water usage. Hotter summers don’t help. The climate has changed. I much prefer states like Hawaii which are like living in paradise, especially on the island of K’auai.
Loonies! Nutjobs! A simple measure. A very small effort at capping emissions. And that brings out folks who just will not understand that we ALL need to do our part, no matter how small, to fight climate change. Or do folks still think it’s a myth, a liberal hoax? That is just nuts. I swear. If a cure for cancer was discovered, that took some effort on our part to make happen, some folks would pop up to claim it’s a liberal plot. Oh! Yes. They already are out, as the resistance to masks and vaccines clearly shows
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