South Coast AQMD Expands Lawn & Garden Incentive Program

Leaf blowers, trimmers, chainsaws, and lawn mowers now eligible for up to $250 rebate

DIAMOND BAR, Calif., Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) announced the expansion of its Residential Electric Lawn & Garden Equipment Rebate Program from just lawn mowers to include leaf blowers, trimmers, and chainsaws. Trimmers can include weed wackers, edgers, and brush cutters. Residents in the South Coast Air Basin now have the opportunity to replace up to three different gasoline-powered equipment with zero-emission, battery-electric models purchased from an authorized retail store or online.

The program offers a rebate of up to $250 per equipment to help offset the cost of the new purchase. Rebates are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and the destruction of the old gasoline equipment at a certified scrapper is required. Participants can receive up to three rebates for three different eligible electric lawn and garden equipment types, with corresponding scrapping of a gasoline-powered equivalent over the life of the program. The new equipment must be cordless and include a battery and charger to receive the rebate. Applications must be submitted online.

"Using a gas-powered lawn mower for just one hour emits the same amount of pollution as a road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas," said Wayne Nastri, Executive Officer at the South Coast AQMD. "By expanding the program, we hope more residents will make the switch to electric lawn and garden equipment, that will reduce their carbon footprint and improve air quality."

Since 2017, the original Residential Electric Lawn Mower Rebate Program has achieved emission reductions in the South Coast Air Basin of approximately 1.4 tons per year of volatile organic compounds and 0.28 ton per year of nitrogen oxides. A sizeable increase in emission reduction can be expected with the program expansion.

For more information about the newly expanded Residential Electric Lawn & Garden Equipment Rebate Program, visit www.aqmd.gov/lawnmower. For questions about the program, email [email protected] or call (888) 425-6247 Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

For our existing Commercial Electric Lawn & Garden Equipment Incentive & Exchange Program that offers up to 85% discount for commercial gardeners and landscapers, visit www.aqmd.gov/lawngarden.

South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

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SOURCE SOUTH COAST AQMD