Electric Leaf Blower Outreach Results Status Report.

This memorandum reports on the status of electric leaf blower outreach in San José, highlighting the environmental and health impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers. It includes recommendations for accepting a staff report on the leaf blower market, details on California laws affecting gas-powered engines, and the economic analysis of electric versus gas leaf blowers. Stakeholder engagement revealed concerns from landscapers about the transition to electric equipment. The memorandum outlines next steps for further analysis and engagement regarding potential incentive programs for electric leaf blowers.

Key points

• The memorandum is addressed to the Transportation and Environment Committee regarding electric leaf blower outreach.
• It recommends accepting a staff report on the leaf blower market in San José.
• Gas-powered leaf blowers contribute significantly to air pollution and health risks.
• California Assembly Bill 1346 bans the sale of new gas-powered small off-road engines effective January 1, 2024.
• Electric leaf blowers produce lower greenhouse gas emissions and do not emit harmful pollutants.
• Stakeholder engagement indicated skepticism among landscapers regarding electric leaf blowers.
• The memorandum outlines next steps for further analysis on potential incentive programs for electric leaf blowers.

Limitations

• The text contains unresolved placeholders and lacks specific details in some sections.
• The document does not provide specific dates for future actions beyond March 2025.

Generated for convenience from extracted text using AI. Review the official source document before relying on this summary.

The source text indicates this attachment appears to be a draft document.

Attachment A provides a list of Bay Area cities with ordinances regarding gas leaf blowers and programs for electric leaf blowers as of October 8, 2024. It indicates which cities have bans on gas leaf blowers and whether they have programs to aid the adoption of electric leaf blowers.

Key points

• Cities with a ban on gas leaf blowers include Oakland, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Burlingame, Berkeley, Piedmont, Lafayette, and Atherton.
• Cities without a ban on gas leaf blowers include Mountain View, Woodside, San Mateo.
• Cities with programs to aid the adoption of electric leaf blowers include Mountain View, Menlo Park, Burlingame, Berkeley, Piedmont, Lafayette, and Atherton.
• Cities without such programs include Oakland, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Woodside, San Mateo.

Limitations

• The document appears to be a draft.
• The date mentioned is October 8, 2024, which may not be accurate as it is in the future.

Generated for convenience from extracted text using AI. Review the official source document before relying on this summary.

Attachment B presents charts related to gas leaf blower greenhouse gas emissions in San José for the year 2021. It indicates that gas leaf blower emissions account for 2% of all other off-road vehicle emissions, which make up 5% of the communitywide greenhouse gas emissions.

Key points

• Gas leaf blower emissions account for 2% of all other off-road vehicle emissions.
• Gas leaf blower emissions are part of the 5% attributed to all other transportation.

Limitations

• The text does not provide specific numerical values for total emissions or other categories.
• The charts referenced are not included in the text.

Generated for convenience from extracted text using AI. Review the official source document before relying on this summary.

The source text indicates this attachment appears to be a draft document.

The report discusses the transition from gas to electric leaf blowers in San José, prompted by California Assembly Bill 1346, which prohibits the sale of new gas leaf blowers starting January 1, 2024. It highlights the health impacts of gas leaf blowers, the economic implications for landscaping businesses, and the emissions associated with their use. The report also outlines program options to encourage the adoption of electric leaf blowers and suggests next steps for stakeholder engagement and program design.

Key points

• California Assembly Bill 1346 prohibits the sale of new gas leaf blowers effective January 1, 2024.
• Gas leaf blowers are linked to various health issues including respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease.
• San José has 1,377 licensed landscaping businesses, primarily employing 5 or fewer workers.
• The total cost of ownership for electric leaf blowers is significantly lower than for gas leaf blowers over five years.
• Electric leaf blowers produce far fewer emissions compared to gas models.
• Many California cities have implemented bans on gas leaf blowers and have programs to support the transition to electric models.
• The report suggests various program options to incentivize the switch to electric leaf blowers, including rebates and trade-in vouchers.
• Next steps include further stakeholder engagement and analysis to design effective incentive programs.

Limitations

• The document appears to be a draft, as indicated by the presence of placeholder sections and unresolved details.
• Some sections contain unresolved placeholders that affect the completeness of the summary.

Generated for convenience from extracted text using AI. Review the official source document before relying on this summary.