Software
Houzz Logo Print
hzdeleted_41261610

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

3 years ago

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.


Link to the law, AB-1346


The Law, AB-1346 as of 09OCT2021, to go into effect no later than 01JAN2024,

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1346


Links to the developing story,


The LA Times, 09OCT2021,

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-09/california-moves-toward-ban-on-gas-lawnmowers-and-leaf-blowers


The Wall Street Journal, 12OCT2021,

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-09/california-moves-toward-ban-on-gas-lawnmowers-and-leaf-blowers


The Washington Post, 12OCT2021,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2021/10/12/california-newsom-law-equipment-pollution/


FOX News Channel, 18OCT2021,

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-gas-powered-lawn-banned-newsom


Car and Driver, 19OCT2021

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38004981/california-ban-gas-powered-lawn-equipment/


CNET, 22OCT2021,

https://www.cnet.com/home/yard-and-outdoors/california-outlaws-future-sales-of-gas-leaf-blowers-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,

https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a1719091/autoweek-explains-carb-states-zev-states-smile-states/


Maryland Department of the environment, (Current)

https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/air/mobilesources/pages/states.aspx


Bloomberg Law, 26MAR2021,

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/states-adopt-california-car-rules-amid-national-standards-debate


CarsDirect, 22SEP2021,

https://www.carsdirect.com/deals-articles/what-are-carb-emission-states


-GT

Comments (12)

  • 3 years ago

    It is going to be interesting, No nuclear power plants, solar energy that is only good for about half a day on the average, and wind power that can only works in a very liming range of wind conditions. They have removed their hydro power plant.


    With all of those people producing methane maybe some one can figure out a way to capture that.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Unfortunately, "Chicken Little" has misread or deliberately misinterpreted the California Legislature and ARB regulations.

    The regulations prohibit the sale of new machines of less than 24hp after Jan 1, 2024 unless they are zero emission. The proposed (but not enacted) full ban is Jan 1, 2035.

    I'm not necessarily happy about this, but have two years to purchase something new, and a further eleven years to use what I already have. Most of my existing equipment is ten to twenty years old so I think the 2035 date is more relevant than the 2024 date. I currently have three garden tractors, three weedeaters, three leaf blowers, two walk behind edgers, two rototillers, a snow thrower, and a large shredder/bagger.

    I grew up in California and remember when the gear-heads went nuts with the first auto emission controls and how cars and horsepower were ruined in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Guess what, Detroit, Tokyo, and Dingolfing learned how to produce even more street legal, emission compliant horsepower. My current rides are a 2008 BMW M5 (500hp) and a Ford F350 diesel (440hp). Yes both have more HP than I'll ever need, and will eventually be replaced by battery or hydrogen technology, but I can live with that.

  • 3 years ago

    Greg, Name calling or personal attacks are unnecessary.


    If you have a dispute with the facts as I relayed them from the actual law, and the many credible sources of reporting that I pulled from, then please stick with that, and I would be happy to dispute with you actual facts. By the way, I did place links for the actual law, and all the stories that have been written from both liberal leaning and conservative leaning sources, too many to put all of them down, but please feel free to read them prior to comment. Thank you.

  • 3 years ago

    I guess a 25 HP push mower is in our future.

  • 3 years ago

    I wonder where all of this electricity is going to come from?

  • 3 years ago

    This reminds me of the 1970 when the libs, decided to increase the gas mileage of the automobile. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the SUV, which they still are complaining about.


    Not only did they create the SUV, but with the billions spent on improving gas mileage, my 2017 Dodge gets the same gas mileage as a 1917 Dodge.


    I wonder what kinds of lawn mowers this will create. Maybe one powered by a 350 V8

  • 3 years ago

    California🤦, wasn't the San Andreas fault supposed to crack by now and have dropped them off into the Pacific? Not sure why anybody lives there in the first place. Given that everything causes cancer in that state. I would also like someone from C.A.R.B. explain to me why L.A. still has smog after all these years of emissions testing.

  • 3 years ago

    Nathaniel, Good questions!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Wait, what's the point of this law? Why can't tractors above 25 hp be used? Why was it accepted? Each adopted law has its own purpose, but here I have only one thought: that the state wants to take even more money from us. It turns out that all farmers who use tractors with an engine power of 25 hp and above have to pay some kind of tax? I bought myself a 30 hp tractor just a few months ago from this site -- https://www.machinerydealer.co.uk, for a good price, and now I have to pay some additional taxes for it?

  • 2 years ago

    Old thread and the above post sounds like spam as much as anything else.


    In any case, the link to the law (actually it's a link to the bill) doesn't mention horsepower at all. Where is the 25 hp cutoff coming from?


    And is there some kind of tax for larger ones? I saw nothing on that either.

  • 2 years ago

    When a challenge emerges, some complain while others get creative. Solar produces only when the sun shines. So, someone added a battery. Now there's power all the time.

Sponsored
RHS Remodeling
Average rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars24 Reviews
Loudoun County, VA's Top Handyman Service | Best of Houzz 2018-2019