California bans small gas engines including gas generators

[ThomasD]

California law bans small off-road gas engines, including lawnmowers and chainsaws​

Asher Notheis
Sun, October 10, 2021, 12:46 PM

California took another step toward its goal of ridding the state of all gas-powered engines thanks to a new bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday.
The new law will ban the sale of all off-road, gas-powered engines, including generators, lawn equipment, pressure washers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, and even golf carts. Under the new law, these machines must be zero-emissions, meaning they will have to be either battery-powered or plug-in, according to the Los Angeles Times.
CALIFORNIA FARMS TURN TO DUST AS NEWSOM AND WHITE HOUSE POLICIES WORSEN DROUGHT EFFECTS
"This is a pretty modest approach to trying to limit the massive amounts of pollution that this equipment emits, not to mention the health impact on the workers who are using it constantly," Marc Berman, the bill's author, told the outlet. "It’s amazing how people react when they learn how much this equipment pollutes, and how much smog forming and climate changing emissions that small off-road engine equipment creates."
The new law is expected to affect nearly 50,000 small businesses. California's budget includes $30 million to help professional landscapers and gardeners quit using gas-powered equipment, but even then, the budget is still not capable of bearing the full financial burden.
The National Association of Landscape Professionals also noted how zero-emission commercial equipment is both more expensive and less efficient than gas-powered equipment. A gas-powered riding lawn mower costs between $7,000-$11,000 while the zero-emissions version costs more than twice that amount, according to the outlet.
The new rule will be implemented by January 2024, or as soon as regulators determine is "feasible," whichever date is later. The California Air Resources Board has already started working on executing the law, which is a lengthy process scheduled to conclude early next year, per the outlet.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Newsom banning futures purchases of gas-powered lawn equipment continues his pursuit of making California run exclusively on green energy. The governor signed an executive order in September 2020 mandating that all of California’s new car sales be zero-emissions models by 2035. The order also requires new bus and truck sales, whenever feasible, to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2045.
Washington Examiner Videos

 

[mrwug]

Brilliant. Create policies where you can't supply enough electricity to your state's residents and then forbid them to purchase generators to help them deal with the inevitable blackouts.

 

[nwdiver]

Brilliant. Create policies where you can't supply enough electricity to your state's residents and then forbid them to purchase generators to help them deal with the inevitable blackouts.

.... that's what batteries and solar PV are for...

 

[phil4791eng]

.... that's what batteries and solar PV are for...

Huge difference in cost between a gas generator and solar + storage. Most people can’t afford solar + storage for power outages.

 

[nwdiver]

Huge difference in cost between a gas generator and solar + storage. Most people can’t afford solar + storage for power outages.

And most people that can afford it... don't. Like with most things the morons ruin it for everyone else. It would be great if those that could afford to do the right thing did the right thing but we live in the dumbest timeline so most people have to be coerced into not acting like a compete idiot.

But a small inverter-generator + a small solar panel can be had for ~$500 so it's not completely out of reach.

 

[MontyFloyd]

But a small inverter-generator + a small solar panel can be had for ~$500 so it's not completely out of reach.

Was going to say that, 10 SqFt truck roof top panel should do a good job of charging equipment on road.

The concern is the power output for some equipment, like leaf blowers. Maybe there is already a powerful one.

 

[MontyFloyd]

The new law will ban the sale of all off-road, gas-powered engines, including generators, lawn equipment, pressure washers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, and even golf carts.

generators -> Hello solar panels (with PowerWall or Genrack). Supply an issue
lawn (cutting?) equipment -> Doable, need more options
pressure washers -> already here
chainsaws -> already here
weed trimmers -> already here, could use more power
golf carts -> long time already here.

IMHO a rather low bar for most of the stuff.

The only big issue is utilities and private solar panels policy.

 

[nwdiver]

Was going to say that, 10 SqFt truck roof top panel should do a good job of charging equipment on road.

The concern is the power output for some equipment, like leaf blowers. Maybe there is already a powerful one.

Electric now beats fools fuel almost across the board.

 

[dipper]

I love CA Government getting their hands into things. It cost me money, but damn, the returns are so good. I just pass it on to the customers. Justifies to bump up my share of profit, and customers accept it.

 

[qdeathstar]

I have a feeling California I I’ll be burning a lot of propane and using a lot of diesel to transport that propane.

 

[nwdiver]

I have a feeling California I I’ll be burning a lot of propane and using a lot of diesel to transport that propane.

Enjoy wasting ~$5/gal on fools fuel. I’ll enjoy my free sunshine

 

[MorrisonHiker]

Was going to say that, 10 SqFt truck roof top panel should do a good job of charging equipment on road.

The concern is the power output for some equipment, like leaf blowers. Maybe there is already a powerful one.

There are already lots of battery powered options. We've got the EGO blower, chainsaw, string trimmer and mower and their batteries are all interchangeable.

The most Powerful Cordless Blowers in the Industry | EGO

The most advanced in the industry, EGO blowers deliver power beyond belief in a lightweight, compact design. All without the noise, fuss, or fumes of gas.

egopowerplus.com

 

[qdeathstar]

Enjoy wasting ~$5/gal on fools fuel. I’ll enjoy my free sunshine

Yeah, but I can afford 10 gallons of it till the power is restored, I’ll never be able to afford 60K for panels and another 20k for batteries.

I’m looking forward to the day when I can rent and install panels for 10 hours during a storm and then return them when I’m done!

 

[nwdiver]

Yeah, but I can afford 10 gallons of it till the power is restored, I’ll never be able to afford 60K for panels and another 20k for batteries.

I’m looking forward to the day when I can rent and install panels for 10 hours during a storm and then return them when I’m done!

??? You don’t need to spend $80k. I can run my entire house off-grid and it cost me maybe ~$8k. Use it when the grid is up too so you can export clean energy and not have an electric bill

 

[h2ofun]

??? You don’t need to spend $80k. I can run my entire house off-grid and it cost me maybe ~$8k. Use it when the grid is up too so you can export clean energy and not have an electric bill

When like 50% of the population cannot afford to fix a 400 buck car repair, 8K, ....

 

[qdeathstar]

??? You don’t need to spend $80k. I can run my entire house off-grid and it cost me maybe ~$8k. Use it when the grid is up too so you can export clean energy and not have an electric bill

Well, that was not my experience. I was quoted 80 grand for solar abs battery back up in Virginia beach.

 

[mkspeedr]

??? You don’t need to spend $80k. I can run my entire house off-grid and it cost me maybe ~$8k. Use it when the grid is up too so you can export clean energy and not have an electric bill

Disagree. My system was $80K to run my house and charge one of my 4 electric vehicles.

 

[ThomasD]

I wonder if you can have enough battery backup for a city hospital to operate

 

[nwdiver]

When like 50% of the population cannot afford to fix a 400 buck car repair, 8K, ....

…. because they perpetually make idiotic fiscal decisions like buying a car that requires fools fuel. Ride a bike… save $$$$.

Buying a generator that requires insanely expensive fools fuel and will never pay for itself over a PV system that will last ~10x longer with a ~8 year ROI would be yet another choice that keeps poor people poor.

 

[nwdiver]

Disagree. My system was $80K to run my house and charge one of my 4 electric vehicles.

How long would 10 gallons of propane last providing that much power? ~2 hours? Not really apple-apples.