Establishes a new chapter for the 2024 Battery Powered Leaf Blower Pilot Rebate and Education Program.
Impact
The bill specifically targets professional landscapers registered with state authorities, offering them up to $1,500 in rebates for purchasing lithium-powered leaf blowers. Participants are limited to two rebates per business, which promotes local economic activity while working towards environmental sustainability. This legislation marks a significant shift in landscaping practices, advocating for cleaner equipment that aligns with broader climate and public health goals. Nonprofit organizations and government entities are explicitly excluded from this rebate program, ensuring only for-profit landscaping entities benefit from this initiative.
Summary
Bill S2277, titled the '2025 Battery-Powered Leaf Blower Pilot Rebate and Education Program', aims to tackle air and noise pollution by encouraging commercial landscape businesses to shift towards zero-emissions technology. By establishing a rebate program and an educational initiative, the bill seeks to facilitate the adoption of battery-powered leaf blowers, commonly known as e-blowers. The initiative includes an initial funding of $350,000 appropriated from the Rhode Island General Assembly to support this transition and its associated educational efforts.
Education
To further support the transition, the bill includes an education program that covers various aspects of using battery-powered landscaping tools. Topics will range from safe handling and storage to low-impact landscaping practices. The outreach is designed to ensure accessibility and effectiveness, with materials available in multiple languages to serve Rhode Island's diverse landscaping community. This comprehensive approach addresses both the practical needs of landscapers and the educational gaps that have historically hindered the adoption of advanced landscaping technologies.
Contention
Discussion around S2277 is expected to center on its implications for small landscaping businesses, particularly regarding the upfront costs of switching from gas-powered to electric equipment. Supporters argue that the benefits of reduced pollution and increased health safety for workers and neighboring communities outweigh the transition difficulties. However, opponents might raise concerns over the applicability of the rebate to small companies that may struggle with the initial expenditures even after rebate support, or the effectiveness of the educational components in ensuring successful implementation of e-blowers.
Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $1,000,000 To The Office Of Energy Resources To Fund A Rebate Program In Conjunction With The Passage Of An Eligible Ordinance That Would Ban The Use Of Gasoline-powered Leaf Blowers (this Joint Resolution Would Authorize An Appropriation Out Of The 2022-2023 Budget Surplus Of $1,000,000 To Fund A Rebate Program In Conjunction With The Passage Of An Eligible Ordinance That Would Ban The Use Of Gasoline-powered Leaf Blowers.)
Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $1,000,000 To The Office Of Energy Resources To Fund A Rebate Program In Conjunction With The Passage Of An Eligible Ordinance That Would Ban The Use Of Gasoline-powered Leaf Blowers (this Joint Resolution Would Authorize An Appropriation Out Of The 2022-2023 Budget Surplus Of $1,000,000 To Fund A Rebate Program In Conjunction With The Passage Of An Eligible Ordinance That Would Ban The Use Of Gasoline-powered Leaf Blowers.)