Transition away from gas leaf blowers
Published on 5/25/2023
Testimony to San Diego City Council Environment Committee in May 2023:
Good afternoon, I’m Ruth Sandven with SD-SEQUEL. The goal of San Diegans for Sustainable, Equitable, & Quiet Equipment in Landscaping is to protect worker health and the environment by advocating for the enactment of an equitable ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in all jurisdictions of San Diego County. SD-SEQUEL Coalition members include Electrify Now, San Diego Audubon Society, SD-350, San Diego League of Women Voters, CleanEarth4Kids, the Climate Reality Project and the Sierra Club.
SEQUEL is committed to securing a trade-in or buyback program before the ban takes effect to ensure an equitable transition from gas to electric leaf blowers and has been working with CARB and the San Diego APCD to meet this commitment.
Our “ask” of the Environmental Committee is to:
· Immediately begin the transition to electric landscaping equipment on City properties.
· Resolve to ban gas-powered leaf blowers as soon as incentive programs for landscapers are in place.
Our proposed draft ordinance makes the first violation of the gas-powered leaf blower ban a “fix it” ticket with information on trade-in programs.