Some of us are old enough to remember the toil of cutting the grass with push mowers. They may soon be making a comeback.
California recently banned the sale of new gas-powered lawn tools. Colorado and Vermont have passed restrictions, but progressives in Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Washington say they aren’t far behind with potential bans in order to save the planet.
“Ultimately we shouldn’t be selling or using this highly polluting, harmfully noisy equipment,” says Kirsten Schatz with PIRG in Colorado. In Washington, a bill that would have banned new sales of leaf blowers will be revived next year.
Just as progressives want to force everyone to drive electric vehicles, many areas want only electric yard equipment. The Texas legislature blocked local governments from imposing these bans, so Dallas is giving residents up to $200 if they ditch their gas-powered lawn equipment and Austin may offer incentives for residents to trade in old lawnmowers for new electric ones.
What’s next? Solar-powered lawnmowers?