A bill proposed by a Barrington lawmaker would create a rebate program for electric leaf blowers in an effort to reduce air and noise pollution.
Rep. Jennifer Boylan’s office says the proposal would allocate $250,000 in funding for the pilot program. It would be run by the Office of Energy Resources with the goal of encouraging commercial landscapers to adopt electric leaf blowers.
According to Boylan, the program is based on a study that found a gas-powered leaf blower emits more unburnt hydrocarbons than driving a pickup truck from New York City to Los Angeles. She says electric leaf blowers are also significantly more expensive upfront, especially for lawn care companies, but the rebate program would help mitigate that cost.
“I want to thank my colleagues on the Finance Committee for including funding to address the public health concerns associated with gas-powered leaf blowers by promoting the transition to a more sustainable alternative,” said Representative Boylan. “My own home town of Barrington conducted its own electric leaf blower rebate program for homeowners, and it was wildly popular. People want quieter, cleaner lawn care. By providing a pilot rebate program for commercial landscapers we can accelerate this transition to more sustainable practices, industry-wide and help foster a greener, healthier future for our communities.”
The bill was approved by the House Finance Committee on Friday and will be voted on by the full House Friday.
