Key state committee passes bill that incentivizes electric lawn equipment

State Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Senator Hansen and Representatives McCormick and Sirota, passed through its first committee today by a 5 to 2 vote. Section 8 of the bill creates a tax credit for retailers that could reduce the up-front price for consumers by 30% when they purchase electric-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers and snow blowers. 

According to CoPIRG Foundation’s recent report, Small Machines, Big Pollution, gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other equipment are big polluters. For example, a consumer-grade leaf blower emits nearly 300 times the amount of ozone-forming pollutants as a 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck, and operating a commercial lawn mower for one hour can result in as much ozone-forming emissions as driving 300 miles. 

Coloradans have been exposed to dangerously high levels of ozone air pollution for over a decade as the northern Front Range has failed to meet EPA air quality standards. If the region can fully transition away from gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, it can achieve nearly one fifth of the reduction needed to meet EPA health-based air quality standards for ozone.

The bill will head next to the Senate Finance Committee.

View CoPIRG Clean Air Advocate Kirsten Schatz’s statement on the vote here.