San Jose officials want rebate for electric leaf blowers

Advocates and politicians have worked for years to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in San Jose. A new incentive could be the answer.

Although the state has banned the purchase of new gas leaf blowers as of this year, the city is pushing to get existing gas-operated leaf blowers out of circulation. The program funded by San Jose Clean Energy would rebate commercial landscaping companies $500 for every electric leaf blower purchased to encourage users to switch out the equipment. In April, Mayor Matt Mahan and City Councilmembers David Cohen and Dev Davis proposed the $500 rebate plan. 

“Gas-powered leaf blowers last forever,” Cohen told San José Spotlight. “Once a business has it, they have no incentive to change it unless we mandate the change. That’s why we wanted to provide resources to help them make the transition. If we provide a grant that’s significant enough, I think we will overcome that barrier.”

Officials asked city employees to evaluate the battery and charging needs for electric leaf blowers and whether the rebate should be increased. Cohen said the rebate could end up being $1,000 to $1,300 per purchase. The findings will be presented in November.

Switching to a commercial electric leaf blower, with batteries and charging equipment, can be pricey. At Lowe’s in South San Jose, a commercial electric 56-volt backpack leaf blower with two batteries and a charger costs $700. Diego Mejias, a supervisor at the hardware store, said although sales have increased for electric leaf blowers, buyers balk at the expense of additional batteries.

“Each battery is almost as much as the product itself,” he told San José Spotlight, adding they differ in price by voltage, amps and run time, costing from $170 to $400.

As of this year, landscapers no longer have a choice if they want to buy a new leaf blower. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law in 2021 banning the purchase of gas-powered leaf blowers statewide, which took effect in January.

The push to move San Jose to electric leaf blowers began with Martin Stuczynski, leader of the District 10 Leadership Coalition Working Group for Elimination of Gas Leaf Blowers. He is joined by coalition Vice Chair David Heindel. The two met with Cohen in April.

“I feel frustrated,” Stuczynski told San José Spotlight. “I’ve been working on this for years and I see other cities progressing with bans and conversion to electric blowers. Why can’t we get this done in San Jose?”

Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Gatos and more than 30 other California cities have banned gas leaf blowers. 

Landscapers will need additional batteries to get through a day’s work, Stuczynski said, but won’t have to pay for gas or oil or breathe in fumes.Heindel said new electric leaf blowers are comparable in power to gas ones. He said transitioning will decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve residents’ quality of life.

Rather than ban gas-powered blowers outright, the city has to be cautious in its approach, Cohen said.

“The main concern is small businesses and their ability to stay in business,” he told San José Spotlight. “Getting a rebate program in place that works is necessary before we mandate it, so… businesses have a way to pay for the transition. If it makes sense… to do a ban, I will be supportive. I am waiting to see how the rebate program works. Once it’s successful, we’ll figure out the timing for bringing forward a vote.”

Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].