Is AB-1346 The Beginning To The End Of The GARDEN TRACTOR?

[airbiscuit]

 

[Bob Rooks]

.......... asked the salesman if they could make it home.
"How far?"
"115 - 125 miles."
"No problem."

Trusting a salesperson.................

 

[Bob Rooks]

Electric trucks is not a new concept either. No doubt they would have proliferated were it not for John Rockefeller and Big Oil. To name just a couple ;

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2018/03/20/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1912-commercial-truck-company-model-a-10-standard-electric-truck

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_Electric_Truck

 

[ultrarunner]

My Wife brought something to my attention this morning that was more bad news specific to the "Hobby" most of us share. I did some searching to find out how bad it was and became "Stunned" at the far reaching potential impact that one US State (California) can have on the Nation as a whole, I'm unsure how it might impact our friends up north (Canada) at this time, if any, and those outside of North America may not have any impact from this at all.

California's New Law, AB-1346, signed into law 09OCT2021 that bans ALL residential and commercial gas powered yard equipment by 01JAN2024, That's 786 days or 2 years by my calculation starting with today. A ban on all small engines 25hp and under with these temporary exemptions for now, on-road motor vehicles, off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, model airplanes, or cars. The exempt vehicles are mandated to have zero emission mandates by CARB, by 2035 at the latest.

Examples of what is banned,

Lawn Mowers, Lawn and Garden Tractors, Snow Blowers, Leaf Blowers, Rototillers, Portable Water Pumps, Fence Post Augers, Chain Saws, String Trimmers, Generators (by 2028), Golf Carts, and specialty Vehicles, to name a few. Zero emission is defined as electric battery powered or plug-in, not Natural Gas or Propane.

This forum is about Lawn and Garden Tractors and the unique role they play in our lives. Though California residents are losing some valuable freedoms here, for those in other States that think they are in the clear, you may need to reconsider how this law may impact you by which State you live in. This law mandates CARB (California Air Resources Board) to regulate the ban of all small engine yard equipment (25hp and under by 01JAN 2024 as the first of many new mandates to come). CARB is stricter than the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and is allowed to act outside of the EPA and so far, there are 15 States that have adopted CARB as there standard with 3 more pending adoption.

The current US States that have adopted CARB are as follows,

1) California
2) New York
3) Massachusetts
4) Vermont
5) Maine
6) Pennsylvania
7) Connecticut
8) Rhode Island
9) Washington
10) Oregon
11) New Jersey
12) Maryland
13) Delaware
14) Colorado
15) Virginia

The three current pending States to adopt CARB are as follows,

1) Minnesota
2) Nevada
3) New Mexico

For California, I'm sorry, it's over for now, but for those in the other States, maybe something can still be done? I don't know.

I can't find one piece of equipment that can take over the job of the Garden Tractor as an electric option for in the cold and blowing snow as an example of what's being lost, at least in the residential market. For those thinking AG such as a SCUT to get around these laws, maybe? But residential Zoning may prohibit as a Code Violation the use of AG equipment in a Residential zone, but either way, it looks like you have two years if you can get supply, and to be "Grandfathered" with a new Garden Tractor and or snow blower or? Before CARB ends the supply and choice for you.

I have left the actual law in PDF for all of you plus links.

Link to the law,

The Law, AB-1346 as of 09OCT2021, to go into effect no later than 01JAN2024,
Bill Text - AB-1346 Air pollution: small off-road engines.

Links to the developing story,

The LA Times, 09OCT2021,
California moves toward ban on gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers

The Wall Street Journal, 12OCT2021,
California moves toward ban on gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers

The Washington Post, 12OCT2021,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/clim...12/california-newsom-law-equipment-pollution/

FOX News Channel, 18OCT2021,
California: Gas-powered lawn equipment tops long list of things banned by Newsom

Car and Driver, 19OCT2021
California Enacts Ban on Gas-Powered Lawn Mowers, Leaf Blowers

CNET, 22OCT2021,
https://www.cnet.com/home/yard-and-...-lawn-mowers-what-to-know-about-the-new-rule/

Link to the EPA and CARB explanation on Wiki,

Wikipedia, Clean Air Act, CARB, description,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_vehicle_emission_standards

Links to the participation CARB States,

Autoweek, 19MAR2019,
What are CARB states, ZEV states and 'smile' states? Autoweek explains

Maryland Department of the environment, (Current)
States Adopting California's Clean Cars Standards

Bloomberg Law, 26MAR2021,
States Adopt California Car Rules Amid National Standards Debate

CarsDirect, 22SEP2021,
https://www.carsdirect.com/deals-articles/what-are-carb-emission-states

-GT

I've been posting for more than a year and had to cut back as much of the feedback was negative as my postings were specific to CARB which has been adopted in many states in addition to California including the entire West Coast.

Right now it is already or soon to be illegal to even fire up a two stroke blower, trimmer, etc... in 21 cities and counting.

This covers Fire Suppression work with the alternative given battery or non mechanical abatement....

Even generators are to be phased out including propane and natural gas.

What I find particularly onerous is many laws apply to equipment already purchased and used in good faith... all done with the stroke of a pen...

Also included as companion legislation banning solid fuel combustion... such as wood and coal stoves.

 

[ultrarunner]

Look for the prices on older machines going up and more people getting older equipment repaired instead of buying new.

The people of CA have had years to vote for change but are happy with their government. Not easy to feel any sympathy for them. Make stupid choices, get stupid results.

I am 71. Have a new ZT that will last for as long as I want to cut grass. All my important gas tools are like new and have not had a lot of use. I started converting to battery operated for light duty jobs so the gasers will last even longer.

We have to save the children....

Prices right now can be almost give away... picked up a nice Honda mower and Echo trimmer FREE...

The owner just wanted it gone... they belonged to her deceased husband and put them in the give away section...

 

[ultrarunner]

What the bill says is that state regulators must, by mid 2022, create regulations that prohibit the sale of new gas-powered equipment that has 25hp or less off-road engines by Jan. 1, 2024, or once the California Air Resources Board says such a law is feasible, whichever date comes later. That’s really no different than them saying “you know what, whenever electric equipment is as cheap and effective as gas powered stuff, we should just go ahead and ban that gas powered stuff”. That‘s a reality that’s coming to a future near you either way.

Granted it’s California and when you combine ignorance and crazy anything is possible, but that’s a gigantic loophole that means it could happen in 2024, or 2054, or never. It’s actually pretty brilliant from a political standpoint if you think about. It was written in such a way that the governor can take all the credit if it works out, but then not be responsible at all if it never happens, or it does happen and it ruins the economy and everyones life.

Not really... 21 cities have already enacted new laws and some already in effect such as my city, Oakland California...

THE FUTURE is HERE NOW (Depending on where you live)

 

[ultrarunner]

t maybe, we all need to care about our grandchildrens world. I love my tractor and mowers. I will hate to give them up but if it means they will not live in a lessor world because we became dependent on a toxic chemical - so be it…

Just maybe, we all need to care about our grandchildrens world. I love my tractor and mowers. I will hate to give them up but if it means they will not live in a lessor world because we became dependent on a toxic chemical - so be it…

I hear what you are saying but there is a cost often overlooked just tossing out perfectly good equipment...

To me it should be a crime but I've seen it with the car buy back program and my neighbors grand daughter had grandma trash her pristine Buick she loved and drove about 200 miles monthly for a brand new Prius.

Now Grandma has had the Prius 7 years and maybe 2500 miles because she hates it...

I wish someone could explain just how the world was saved junking the low mileage Buick for the Prius...?

I know... one size fits all and Resistance is futile...

One pet peeve as I digress...

Anyone else ever notice that the people dictating are often Frequent Fliers... just saying how does their jet setting compare to the 2-3 gallons of two stroke I use in a season?

 

[ultrarunner]

Lawnmower & leaf blower driving equivalents (2017 data):

Operating the best-selling commercial lawn mower for one hour emits as much smog-forming pollution as driving a 2016 Toyota Camry, about 300 miles.

For the best-selling commercial leaf blower, one hour of operation emits smog-forming pollution comparable to driving a 2016 Toyota Camry about 1100 miles.

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch"
Robert Heinlein

I would like to see the study as some have been over the top in the past...

I can run my 4 stroke for an hour using just a fraction of a gallon.

In the real world a 30 mpg car takes 10 gallons to travel 300 miles if highway miles...

 

[DonaldP]

My Wife brought something to my attention this morning that was more bad news specific to the "Hobby" most of us share. I did some searching to find out how bad it was and became "Stunned" at the far reaching potential impact that one US State (California) can have on the Nation as a whole, I'm unsure how it might impact our friends up north (Canada) at this time, if any, and those outside of North America may not have any impact from this at all.

California's New Law, AB-1346, signed into law 09OCT2021 that bans ALL residential and commercial gas powered yard equipment by 01JAN2024, That's 786 days or 2 years by my calculation starting with today. A ban on all small engines 25hp and under with these temporary exemptions for now, on-road motor vehicles, off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, model airplanes, or cars. The exempt vehicles are mandated to have zero emission mandates by CARB, by 2035 at the latest.

Examples of what is banned,

Lawn Mowers, Lawn and Garden Tractors, Snow Blowers, Leaf Blowers, Rototillers, Portable Water Pumps, Fence Post Augers, Chain Saws, String Trimmers, Generators (by 2028), Golf Carts, and specialty Vehicles, to name a few. Zero emission is defined as electric battery powered or plug-in, not Natural Gas or Propane.

This forum is about Lawn and Garden Tractors and the unique role they play in our lives. Though California residents are losing some valuable freedoms here, for those in other States that think they are in the clear, you may need to reconsider how this law may impact you by which State you live in. This law mandates CARB (California Air Resources Board) to regulate the ban of all small engine yard equipment (25hp and under by 01JAN 2024 as the first of many new mandates to come). CARB is stricter than the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and is allowed to act outside of the EPA and so far, there are 15 States that have adopted CARB as there standard with 3 more pending adoption.

The current US States that have adopted CARB are as follows,

1) California
2) New York
3) Massachusetts
4) Vermont
5) Maine
6) Pennsylvania
7) Connecticut
8) Rhode Island
9) Washington
10) Oregon
11) New Jersey
12) Maryland
13) Delaware
14) Colorado
15) Virginia

The three current pending States to adopt CARB are as follows,

1) Minnesota
2) Nevada
3) New Mexico

For California, I'm sorry, it's over for now, but for those in the other States, maybe something can still be done? I don't know.

I can't find one piece of equipment that can take over the job of the Garden Tractor as an electric option for in the cold and blowing snow as an example of what's being lost, at least in the residential market. For those thinking AG such as a SCUT to get around these laws, maybe? But residential Zoning may prohibit as a Code Violation the use of AG equipment in a Residential zone, but either way, it looks like you have two years if you can get supply, and to be "Grandfathered" with a new Garden Tractor and or snow blower or? Before CARB ends the supply and choice for you.

I have left the actual law in PDF for all of you plus links.

Link to the law,

The Law, AB-1346 as of 09OCT2021, to go into effect no later than 01JAN2024,
Bill Text - AB-1346 Air pollution: small off-road engines.

Links to the developing story,

The LA Times, 09OCT2021,
California moves toward ban on gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers

The Wall Street Journal, 12OCT2021,
California moves toward ban on gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers

The Washington Post, 12OCT2021,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/clim...12/california-newsom-law-equipment-pollution/

FOX News Channel, 18OCT2021,
California: Gas-powered lawn equipment tops long list of things banned by Newsom

Car and Driver, 19OCT2021
California Enacts Ban on Gas-Powered Lawn Mowers, Leaf Blowers

CNET, 22OCT2021,
https://www.cnet.com/home/yard-and-...-lawn-mowers-what-to-know-about-the-new-rule/

Link to the EPA and CARB explanation on Wiki,

Wikipedia, Clean Air Act, CARB, description,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_vehicle_emission_standards

Links to the participation CARB States,

Autoweek, 19MAR2019,
What are CARB states, ZEV states and 'smile' states? Autoweek explains

Maryland Department of the environment, (Current)
States Adopting California's Clean Cars Standards

Bloomberg Law, 26MAR2021,
States Adopt California Car Rules Amid National Standards Debate

CarsDirect, 22SEP2021,
https://www.carsdirect.com/deals-articles/what-are-carb-emission-states

-GT

This is a great post!!!
This is an insidious assault on out ability to manage our environments for many things, including the individual right for many of us to produce our own food. We use these smaller more versatile machines for that purpose. Yes fuel issues aside, I can’t imagine trying to till 1/2 acre with an electric tiller! Maybe if one purchase 3 or 4 additional batteries with the electric tiller it would be able to complete the job. But then we have to ask “what is the carbon footprint of producing both the electric tilling device itself, along with the 3 or 4 spare batteries (which are eventually disposable)…”

I would venture to guess that when it’s all added up it may very well be a neutral sum game, all at the cost of what?

It would be interesting to see the numbers.

I’m in New York State.

Let me share how easily it is for the average “voter” to be manipulated in this way by politicians that want to push their political agenda on us by brute force a little at a time, without us even knowing.

Let me share how easily it is for the average “voter” to be manipulated in this way by politicians that want to do this.

there was a proposition on the ballot this November in NY that basically said “Allow every New Yorker the right to access clean air and water”

Now that seems great on the surface…. Yes, let’s all vote for that!!! We all deserve that don’t we?

In reality what this proposition (that passed in New York by the way) says is that “you agree to allow NYS representatives to pass legislation to limit another’s ability to negatively impact your right to clean air and water”.

You would think that’s good right?

Well now, NYS can legislate away anything they want that impacts another’s right by simply making a law. If I want to take down a tree and my neighbor doesn’t like the noise, he can call the police and have my activities stopped because “ the two cycle chain saw is negatively impact ting his health and or access to clean air”

They can also legislate away 25, 32, or even 40hp garden tractors, tractors, or other equipment that they feel negatively impacts others - at their discretion.

Still think it’s not coming to a theatre near you?

Think again …

 

[LouNY]

Unfortunatly you are very correct and in this age of information and disinformation almost nothing on this amendment was ever published in the news of hardy any media.