Proposed legislation, Senate Bill SB22-138 Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, as originally written, requires a mandatory 2030 deadline for conversion of gas-powered landscape equipment to electric power. Last week GreenCO lobbyists and ALCC members met with the sponsor and other stakeholders to discuss industry concerns with the legislation. As of this week, the bill has passed the transportation committee including removal of the mandate and approving an incentive program.

SB22-138 addresses emission reductions of gas-powered equipment, specifically, “small off-road equipment used primarily in lawn and garden equipment, such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws.” The bill as amended, if passed, would remove the original mandate deadline of 2030 for conversion to electric-power and provide a tax credit incentive for voluntary transition to electric-powered equipment.

Beginning in 2023 purchases of “lawn and garden” equipment earn a tax credit of 30 percent of the taxpayer’s expenses in purchasing new, electric-powered equipment. Per the amendment, success of this incentive will be achieved by reaching an increase of 10 percent in sales of small electric-powered off-road equipment within five years after the tax credit becomes effective. Sales records would be monitored annually and used to document the increases.