Voluntary Landscape Equipment Electrification Fund program launches in Santa Barbara County

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) in California has announced the third year of its Landscape Equipment Electrification Fund (LEEF) program. The program is available to businesses, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and schools to trade in gasoline- or diesel-powered landscaping equipment and purchase electric-powered equipment. APCD began accepting applications on June 5, with funds available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The third year of the LEEF program is funded with $850,000 from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Eligible organizations can receive up to:

• $700 for chainsaws, trimmers, edgers and brushcutters;
• $1,400 for leaf blowers and vacuums;
• $1,500 for walk-behind lawn mowers; and
• $15,000 for ride-on and stand/sit mowers.

As part of the program, a like-for-like piece of gasoline- or diesel landscape equipment must be scrapped for each piece of electric equipment purchased. Commercial landscape businesses and nonprofit organizations that operate in Santa Barbara County – as well as public agencies, public schools and non-landscaping businesses that perform their own landscape maintenance and are within Santa Barbara County – are eligible for the program. Individual homeowners are not eligible to apply.

The APCD will host an electric landscape equipment demonstration day on July 19 at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara. Commercial-grade users are encouraged to attend to test electric equipment from eight manufacturers, learn about transitioning their fleet (with information from the  American Green Zone Alliance), and pick up program applications. A similar event will be scheduled in the northern part of the county this fall, reports APCD.

“Previous LEEF program participants have shared with us how much this program has benefited their operations,” says Aeron Arlin Genet, APCD executive director. “We are excited to have a large-scale incentive program geared specifically for landscape equipment countywide and look forward to receiving many applications. This program helps landscaping operations transition to cleaner technology at a reduced cost and helps maintain our progress toward cleaner air in Santa Barbara County.”

For details on the LEEF Program and Demo Day event, and links to application materials, visit www.OurAir.org/LEEFprogram.