[ad_1]
Buena Park is the latest city to ban gas-powered lawn equipment, with city officials laying the groundwork last week to slowly phase residents, businesses and city employees alike into using electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers and other gardening appliances.
It comes as cities across the Golden State are grappling with a state law that prohibits the sale of small, gas-powered motors.
Last Tuesday, Buena Park city officials adopted an ordinance to transition all lawn equipment operated in the city to electric by 2028.
The ordinance also called on allocating $88,000 for the city’s general fund for a rebate program to allow businesses and residents to recoup some of the costs of purchasing electric appliances.
Buena Park isn’t alone in transitioning from gas to electric powered lawn equipment.
Irvine city officials adopted a similar ordinance in late 2023 that banned gas-powered mowers and other equipment, being the first in Orange County to do so.
These ordinances are aimed at helping city officials follow AB 1346 – a bill the state legislature approved a few years ago banning the sale of small off-road engines commonly found in lawn equipment by the start of 2024.
But some city leaders have questioned just how costly this might be for people who live or work in Buena Park.
Councilman Carlos Franco said at last Tuesday’s city council meeting that city officials ought to consider that smaller businesses are likely to have a tougher time switching to all-electric lawn equipment.
He added that some residents are likely to see prices for landscaping services go up.
“If certain people are unable to garden themselves, and then they’re on a fixed income, then we’re also affecting their pocketbooks as well,” he said.
As part of the ordinance, the city would also allocate $88,000 for a rebate program to residents and businesses that are looking to switch to electric lawn equipment.
Later in the meeting, Councilman Connor Traut recommended implementing new regulations on lawn equipment without any penalties – giving businesses an incentive to buy new equipment without fears of being punished if not.
Similarly, Mayor Joyce Ahn added that not giving citations makes it easier for everyone in the city to be on board.
Last year, Buena Park City Council began directing city staff to look into cracking down on gas lawn mowers as part of a move to slowly transition residents and businesses, including landscaping companies, to using all-electric lawn equipment.
[Read: Buena Park Considers Cracking Down on Gas Lawn Mowers, Street Vending]
Councilwoman Susan Sonne – who first brought up transitioning the city to electric lawn equipment back in 2021 – said the ordinance has been reviewed by Buena Park’s Climate Action Commission, ultimately giving city leaders the best option on how to move forward.
She added that the ordinance helps address “valid concerns about our dependence on fossil fuels, how those fumes affect the air that we breathe, and how the noise of that equipment impacts the quality of life for residents.”
Addressing Climate Change in OC
In a phone interview last week, Brandon Schooner, a commissioner for Buena Park’s Climate Action Commission, said residents ”often don’t know what to do” when it comes to combating climate change, even if they want to make a difference.
For Schooner, transitioning away from gas-powered lawn equipment is “a very clear path forward” for people to make an immediate impact in the city.
According to the California Air Resources Board, a gas-powered mower running for one hour emits about the same amount of emissions as a car driving 100 miles.
Currently, emissions from small, gas-powered motors make up roughly about 5% of all greenhouse gas in the United States.
Schooner said any changes toward climate policy by Buena Park officials are “to keep up” with climate policy that’s being done at the state level.
But some climate advocates are highlighting that Buena Park is ahead of the curb in comparison to other OC cities.
David Martinez, who works with the Climate Action Campaign to advocate for climate action policy in Southern California, said in a Friday phone interview that “a lot of cities don’t even have a plan on how to address climate change.”
“Having those plans will let cities know how to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “Getting more cities to adopt climate plans would be great.”
Hugo Rios is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at hugo.toni.rios@gmail.com or on Twitter @hugoriosss.
Related
[ad_2]
Source link
