Minnesota lawmakers push to ban gas-powered Zambonis, lawn mowers

Feb 17, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer/Editor)

Two Democratic state Minnesota lawmakers have introduced bills that would ban the sale of gas-powered equipment. This would include lawn mowers, ice resurfacers (commonly known as Zambonis), leaf blowers, chainsaws and trimmers. The bill would require that all of that equipment would have to be electric in order for them to be sold in the state.

The legislation suggests starting the ban on fossil fuel-powered lawn equipment at the start of 2025. Minnesota farmers are largely against the idea.

One energy and environmental specialist says the gas-powered mower ban wouldn’t really affect residents in urban cities with small yards, but would largely impact rural Minnesotans who own country land that needs equipment with better sustainability than what electric mowers can offer.

This idea isn’t new. California has already banned gas-powered lawn equipment. The state’s Air Resources Board claimed emissions from using gas-powered lawn equipment for one hour was the equivalent of driving a car for 100 miles.

Tags: Electric vehicles, Fossil Fuels, Minnesota

KARAH RUCKER: IN MINNESOTA – TWO DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS THAT WOULD BAN THE SALE OF GAS-POWERED EQUIPMENT. FROM LAWN MOWERS, ICE RESURFACERS, LEAF BLOWERS, CHAINSAWS, AND TRIMMERS – THEY WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE SOLD IN THE STATE.

THE LEGISLATION SUGGESTS STARTING THE BAN ON FOSSIL-FUEL POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT AT THE START OF 20-25. MINNESOTA FARMERS ARE LARGELY AGAINST THE IDEA.

ONE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTALIST SPECIALIST SAYS THE GAS POWERED MOWER BAN WON’T SO-MUCH EFFECT YOUR RESIDENTS IN URBAN CITIES WITH SMALL YARDS TO CUT. IT’S THE RURAL MINNESOTANS WITH SERIOUS WORK OUT IN THE COUNTRY THAT NEED EQUIPMENT WITH BETTER SUSTAINABILITY THAN WHAT ELECTRIC MOWERS CAN OFFER.

IF YOU’RE THINKING THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS SORT OF PROPOSAL HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD – YOU’D BE WRONG. BECAUSE ONE STATE HAS ALREADY BANNED GAS-POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT. THAT STATE BEING CALIFORNIA. THE STATE’S AIR RESOURCES BOARD CLAIMED EMISSIONS FROM USING A GAS MORE FOR ONE HOUR WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF DRIVING A CAR FOR ONE HUNDRED MILES.