A Maryland study recommends switching to electric tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state’s climate goals.
A report from the Maryland PIRG Foundation reveals that gas-powered lawn tools such as leaf blowers emit roughly the same level of “fine particulate” air pollution as 6.4 million gas-powered cars in the state.
As Josh Kurtz explains in Maryland Matters, the report, titled “Lawn Care Goes Electric: Why It’s Time to Switch to a New Generation of Clean, Quiet Electric Lawn Equipment,” estimates emissions on a county-by-county basis and calculates the benefit of removing gas-powered equipment.
“The report recommends that local and state governments use electric equipment on public property and provide financial incentives to encourage the widespread adoption of electric lawn equipment by residents. It further suggests that cities and states consider restrictions on the sale and use of the most-polluting fossil fuel-powered equipment.” One Maryland county, Montgomery County, is already moving to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums and will prohibit their sales in the county starting on July 1, 2024, with a full ban taking effect a year later.
FULL STORY: Study: Gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers produce as much pollution as long car trips
New Jersey to Consider Charging Fossil Fuel Companies for Pollution
A proposed law would make companies liable for damages caused by burning fossil fuels.
Opinion: Supporting Electric School Buses is the Right Thing to Do — and Fiscally Conservative
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Baltimore Bans Gas Leafblowers
The devices release as much air pollution as driving 1,100 miles and have been banned in over 100 U.S. cities.
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San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
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The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
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Study: Walkability Can Help Reduce Dementia Risk
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Empower LA: The LA2050 Grants Challenge
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Edmonds
City of Albany
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research