LEAF BLOWERS

threatened to re-introduce the ban if the city didn’t agree to put the matter up to a city-wide vote, which Winter Park agreed to do.

The day after the city ceded to Brodeur’s request, the Senate passed its pre-emption of the ban.

LESS NOISE, LESS POLLUTION

Cities across the country, largely in California but also in Florida, have changed laws to trade in gas-powered leaf blowers for electric ones. A decade ago, the bans were largely advertised as quality-oflife improvement by removing the noisy roar of lawn maintenance.

But in recent years, advocates have pushed the health and climate implications of the switch.

In the latest national emissions inventory, the federal government found that leaf blowers and lawnmowers in Florida emitted as much air pollution as 22 million cars used in a year in

2020 alone.

Because of its yearround culture of green lawns, Florida leads the nation in pollution from gas-powered lawn equipment. That pollution is harmful to human health, and repeated exposure can lead to lung problems.

Gasoline is also a fossil fuel. When burned, it releases emissions into the atmosphere that worsen global warming.

Electric lawn equipment emits none of those pollutants.

Aaron DeMayo, chair of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee and an urban planner at the Miami-based design firm Future Visions Studio, introduced a resolution this year to convert Miami’s gas leaf blowers to electric. The city commission is set to take it up in mid-March, but a state pre-emption would halt the bill before it’s even heard.

“We have so many actions we have to take to get to net zero; we should start with something easy,” DeMayo said. “This seems fairly simple. The technology is already available. If we’re serious about our goals we should be able to do this.”

Opponents of the switch from gas to electric often cite price as a deterrent.

While electric lawn equipment is cleaner and quieter than its fossilfueled counterparts, it is more expensive.

In a post on X, Seeking Rents reporter Jason Garcia said the state-level pre-emption would apply for at least a year, and the Senate measure also includes a request for $100,000 for a study on the lifespan of gas vs. electric-powered leaf blowers. The measure, contained in a Senate budget bill, would still need to be approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis to become law.

At the commercial level, electric leaf blowers can be four times more expensive than the gaspowered versions, although the costs may even out over the lifetime of the product, and they’re heavier. The LAist reported that some landscape contractors are struggling to adapt financially to the mandates in California cities, although the state has introduced rebates and grants to ease the transition.

Using the gas machines in cities that ban them can also be pricey. Miami Beach’s legislation imposes a $250 fine on first offense for using a gaspowered blower and up to $1,000 for third and repeated offenses.

However, advocates say that the switch is a necessary step in the transition to a lowercarbon world, which is the only way to slow the damaging effects of climate change.

“There’s a cost associated with that transition, but there’s also a cost borne by not taking action on climate-warming emissions,” DeMayo said.

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IF WE’RE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR GOALS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS

Aaron DeMayo, chair of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee