Senate Bill S5390

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5390

SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
providing that one hundred percent of in-state sales of new lawn care
devices shall be zero-emissions by two thousand twenty-nine

 
PURPOSE:

Provides that one hundred percent of in-state sales of new lawn care
devices shall be zero-emissions by two thousand twenty-seven

 
SUMMARY:

Section 1 states that the energy law will be amended by adding section
5-108b which introduces zero-emission lawn care devices by two thousand
twenty-nine. "Lawn care device" is defined as any device powered mechan-
ically, which is intended to be used or is actually used for the mowing
of grass, the cutting or chopping of trees, tree roots, or tree branch-
es, or the clearing of leaves or other vegetation from lawns, sidewalks,
              

public streets or public highways and shall include, but not be limited
to, such devices as lawn mowers and lawn mower attachments, lawn edgers,
leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, mulchers, and chippers.

This act will require that all lawn care devices that are offered for
sale or sold in the state will be zero-emissions by 2029 which will be
done with safety, technological feasibility, and cost-effectiveness in
mind. With help of the departments of economic development, environ-
mental conservation, the public service commission, and other state and
local agencies a plan will be put in place to ensure that a strategy is
developed by January thirty-first, two thousand twenty-five and that an
update is issued every three years thereafter. Finally, the public
service commission and other state agencies will work to ensure that
these zero-emission lawn care devices are affordable so individuals in
low-income and disadvantaged communities have the access to such
devices.

Section 2 states the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2019, New York State passed the Climate Leadership and Community
Protection Act (CLCPA) which establishes nation-leading benchmarks for
emissions reductions. Without swift, innovative action we risk missing
the targets outlined, and furthering the severity of climate change
being experienced. Landscaping contributes to 5-105k of all toxic air
pollution. In fact, these emissions have been designated as "probable
carcinogens" by the EPA.

The Audubon Society magazine published that "gas-powered lawn care of
all kinds spews pollutants linked to cancers, heart disease, and asthma,
and blower's, blast air up to 280 miles per hour, eroding topsoil and
sending pollen, fertilizers, and herbicides adrift."

Additionally, this equipment can produce more than 100 decibels of low-
frequency, wall-penetrating sound, as much noise as a plane taking off
at levels that can result in tinnitus and hearing loss with long expo-
sure. Meaning that lawn care professionals who are overwhelmingly
represented by minority populations are heavily burdened by the effects
of loud equipment, and are inhaling a number of harmful toxic pollutants
handling such devices.

According to the EPA Report "National Emissions from Lawn and Garden
Equipment", this legislation would help combat global emissions and
decrease our footprint. The elimination of gas-powered lawn care devices
will enhance the health of a community by terminating harmful exposure
to toxic emissions and noise pollution. The enactment of this legis-
lation will not only enhance the lives of the workers but will also move
us towards New York's National Leading Climate Target of 85W reduction
in GHG Emissions by 2050.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S7462A - Died in Energy and Telecommunications

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.