by Anthony Gockowski
Two Twin Cities lawmakers have introduced bills to ban the sale of new gas-powered lawn mowers and Zambonis in Minnesota.
Reps. Jerry Newton, DFL-Coon Rapids, and Heather Edelson, DFL-Edina, introduced HF 1715 and 1716 this week. The first would require all new lawn and garden equipment sold or distributed in Minnesota after Jan. 1, 2025, to be powered solely by electricity. This would apply to lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge clippers, chainsaws, lawn edgers, string trimmers, and brush cutters.
“While electric leaf blowers or hedge clippers may work fine for urban and suburban dwellers, these tools are entirely insufficient for anyone who needs to do serious work out in the country,” Isaac Orr, a policy fellow with the Center of the American Experiment, wrote in an article.
“This legislation wisely leaves snowblowers off the list of contraband, but its introduction demonstrates that urban and suburban liberals have no idea how rural Minnesotans live their lives, and it suggests that they don’t care to learn,” added Orr, who specializes in energy and environmental issues.
The pair also introduced a bill to prohibit new gas-powered Zambonis in Minnesota by the start of next year.
California became the first state to ban gas-powered lawn equipment in 2021. The state’s Air Resources Board claimed the emissions from using a gas-powered mower for one hour are equivalent to driving the average car for 100 miles.
The two bills are just one small piece of the Minnesota DFL’s green-energy agenda. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz recently signed a bill into law that will require the state to produce 100% carbon-free energy by 2040.
“DFLers are committed to taking action on climate — unchecked climate pollution threatens Minnesota’s future,” House Speaker Melissa Hortman said after the bill passed. “Now is the time to take bold action and ensure Minnesotans have the healthy climate and clean energy future they deserve.”
Republicans unsuccessfully offered several amendments to the bill, including lifting the state’s moratorium on new nuclear power plants.
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Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and reported for The Daily Caller.
Photo “Jerry Newton” by Jerry Newton for MN House. Photo “Heather Edelson” by State Representative Heather Edelson. Background Photo “Zamboni” by BlueBuck.
