Washington state Democrats propose ban on gas-powered lawn equipment to fight "climate change"

By lauraharris // 2023-12-20

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Two Democratic Washington state representatives have proposed new legislation that would outlaw "gasoline-powered and diesel-powered landscaping and other outdoor power equipment" to help fight the so-called "climate change." House Bill 1868, authored by Amy Walen and Liz Berry, demands zero emissions from common lawn care tools, including lawnmowers, weed whackers, trimmers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, augers, wood chippers, pressure washers and snow blowers, to amend the Clean Air Act. Violators of the proposed law could face fines of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to 364 days, or both for each violation. (Related: Battle against carbon dioxide a ploy to TAKE AWAY FREEDOMS under the guise of "fighting climate change.") The bill would grant the Washington Department of Ecology the authority to require businesses to replace their gas-powered outdoor equipment with "zero emission landscaping equipment." The ban, if enacted, would apply to equipment produced on or after Jan. 1, 2026, or at the earliest reasonable date. However, the bill does make some exemptions. It would still allow the use of gas-powered equipment by government agencies and in commercial or residential settings where "suitable zero-emission outdoor power equipment technology" is unavailable. In the bill, Walen and Berry argued that gas-powered gardening tools are a significant contributor to climate change and even cause health problems, including asthma, hearing loss and others. According to the Environmental Protection Agency of President Joe Biden, these machines are responsible for five percent of the air pollution in the United States, with 17 million gallons of gasoline being spilled annually during refueling. In support of this claim, the bill states that running a gas lawnmower for just one hour can emit as much smog-forming pollution as driving a passenger car for 300 miles.

Rantz: HB 1868 is anti-small and minority business owners

However, in an op-ed article written by Jason Rantz for My Northwest, he argued that the proposal could disproportionately impact minority business owners. He noted in his article that, based on nationwide data, Hispanics owned 22.8 percent of landscaping companies in the country, while blacks owned 14.7 percent. His argument makes sense, as commercial electric equipment often comes with a higher upfront cost than its gas-powered counterparts. For instance, the Orange County Register accounts that a commercial electric backpack leaf blower could cost over $100 more than its gas-powered counterpart, while a 52-inch-wide ride-on electric Mean Green Mowers starts at almost $30,000, more than three times the cost of a comparable gas-powered machine. Small businesses could struggle with the demands of transitioning to zero-emission alternatives despite the potential financial assistance outlined in the bill, especially since these incentives are set to expire on Jan. 1, 2030. "It's also worth considering the current limitations of electric landscaping equipment, such as battery life and power, which can't meet the demands of larger or more intensive landscaping projects. Even with tax credits, will they last long enough to cover the constant need to upgrade to better and more efficient technology?" Rantz wrote. Watch this video that explains why claims of CO2 being destructive to the planet are anti-scientific. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

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Rantz: HB 1868 is anti-small and minority business owners

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