Committee debates phasing out gas-powered lawn equipment; members call for pilots and demos

Committee members debated whether to support a municipal ordinance phasing out gas-powered lawn equipment, with proponents pointing to high emissions from two-cycle leaf blowers and others urging a phased approach that accounts for equity, commercial impacts and battery recycling.

The ordinance-review concept presented would target gas-powered leaf blowers and consider phased restrictions, exceptions and a timeline for municipal and private property. Speaker 3 noted examples from other cities (Cambridge) and flagged that leaf blowers are a “low-hanging fruit” because two-cycle engines are high emitters. He also announced a battery-powered equipment demonstration scheduled for June 24 at Smith Vocational School, organized with CAPA and a statewide purchasing entity to display professional-grade electric options.

Individual members described varied experience with electric gear. Chris (Speaker 1) said retail aisles increasingly sell electric homeowner tools but observed many professional backpack blowers remain two-stroke; he suggested phased restrictions, retailer demos and a municipal case study. "I stopped in Walmart the other night... they only had one gas leaf blower," Chris said, noting that professional-grade equipment remains a key challenge.

Carolyn (Speaker 8) offered a local example: GrowFood Northampton now operates its large site entirely with electric equipment. Eric (Speaker 5) and others raised equity questions — the cost of electrified equipment, battery longevity and recycling — and urged a phase-in with supports for small businesses and battery-recycling pathways.

Next steps discussed included recommending City Council consideration and requesting DPW share pilot studies and internal findings so the committee could identify specific areas to support; members did not adopt a final ordinance at the meeting.