Using gasoline-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other landscaping equipment could soon be illegal in Dallas, but why?
Citing health, noise, and environmental concerns, Dallas officials are developing plans to phase out the use of gas-powered tools for city departments, contractors, businesses, and residents by 2027 or 2030. The main argument that supports this ban is that gasoline-powered equipment is air-polluting. The alternative the City proposes is to use electric-powered equipment. According to the City of Dallas, it would cost $6.5 million to fully convert more than 5,400 pieces of gas-powered municipal equipment, and the cost for residents and business owners to switch was estimated to be $23 million.
The city is hiring a consultant group to help flesh out a transition plan and evaluate its impact on the public. Dallas officials, for example, don’t know how feasible it is for the average resident to switch to non-gasoline equipment or how many lawn care and landscaping businesses operate in the city.
Susan Alvarez, assistant director of Dallas’ environmental quality and sustainability office, told the Dallas Morning News that Dallas officials don’t know how possible it is for the average resident to switch to non-gasoline equipment or how many lawn care and landscaping businesses operate in the city. “I think being able to meaningfully implement this in a way where we’re not adversely impacting those businesses is going to be critical,” Alvarez said.