Proposed Bill In Minnesota Would Ban New Gas-Powered Lawnmowers

Right now California is the only state in the United States where new gas-powered lawnmowers and garden equipment will not be available for sale. The law was signed in 2021 and is set to go into effect in 2024.

Right now in Minnesota according to Bring Me The News "a bill authored by Rep. Jerry Newton, DFL-Coon Rapids, and Rep. Heather Edelson, DFL-Edina, would require all new lawn and garden equipment sold in the state to be fully electric by Jan. 1, 2025, including leaf blowers, chainsaws, brush cutters, lawn edgers and more."

I understand the point of toxins and pollutants that go into the air and the environment from this type of equipment but this could be quite a hassle for some homeowners. I had an electric leaf blower and I hated it. It was heavy because of the battery and I always was having to pull and rewrap the extension cord which would drag on the ground and of course you need to plug it into an outlet.

I understand many of these items would take rechargeable batteries so you would not need an extension cord, but maybe the designs of these items would be modified differently so they will be lighter and more efficient.

With the popularity of electric cars which is a way bigger deal than a lawn mower or leaf blower to try and adjust to, maybe this could work. According to Washington University in St. Louis, Gas powered leaf blowers and lawnmowers are worse for the environment than a lot of people think including me. With some of these pieces of equipment, you have to mix oil and gas together which releases a number of harmful toxic pollutants into the air.

As of right now, there is not anyone in the Minnesota Senate backing this proposed bill, if there is a hearing the next step is the House and Finance Committee so we will have to wait and see how far this bill proposal goes.