Gas lawn equipment is horrible for health – here’s how these cities are fixing it
A new interactive mapping tool shows how a growing number of US cities and states have passed regulations restricting the use of gas-powered lawn equipment, or incentivizing the use of electric equipment, with big clean air benefits for a comparatively small investment.
While gas lawn equipment use may seem like it’s not all that big a deal at first glance, gas leafblowers and lawnmowers can actually extremely bad for air and human health – sometimes moreso than cars.
The issue is that “small off-road engines” (SOREs) usually don’t include any sort of pollution controls, and are often dirtier two-stroke engines that create more power in a small package, but emit orders of magnitude more pollution in the form of unburned particulates from the incomplete combustion process they undergo when compared to four-stroke engines.
As a result, running a gas leaf blower for an hour can produce more emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and reactive organic gases (ROG) than driving a small passenger car 1,000 miles. The car still has plenty of other impacts – higher carbon emissions and energy use, contribution to sprawl and land use, oil dependency and so on – but for these specific smog-forming pollutants, SOREs have a major impact.
It’s gotten to the point where California regulators at one point said that gas lawn equipment was responsible for more NOx + ROG emissions statewide than passenger cars did. And in Colorado, lawn & garden equipment contributes about a third as much ozone as the Colorado’s large oil & gas industry, or also about a third as much as all on-road vehicles combined (including heavy duty trucks).
This pollution doesn’t just form smog and harm human health, but when it happens in residential areas as it often does, it can directly pollute the air of the homes nearby – and operators, of course, have to breathe it every day. Not only that, but the rumbling noise of lawn equipment can create quite a nuisance in residential areas, especially with the rising popularity of working from home.
As a result of all of this, regulators in many states and cities have recognized that restrictions on gas lawn equipment can give outsized air quality benefits for relatively little cost or disruption, and that’s exactly what they’ve done in many places across the country, according to a new analysis by U.S. PIRG.
The new interactive mapping tool was created by U.S. PIRG, a public interest advocacy group which focuses on a number of issues, including environment and clean air.
It shows that cities in 26 states have passed some sort of restriction on use of gas lawn equipment, or incentive to swap to electric. As you might expect, California and Colorado are leading the way here, but plenty of other states and cities have something available, including some that aren’t always known for defending clean air on the state level (like, for example, Texas),
These restrictions take several forms. From California’s statewide ban on sale of new gas lawn equipment, to city restrictions on gas leaf blowers or on any equipment over a certain noise level, to municipal use of electric equipment, or simply incentives to encourage swapping out gas for electric.
Thankfully, there are better options available these days, and they’re quite cheap compared to the outsized air quality benefits they produce.
Electric lawn equipment has improved dramatically in recent years, offering lower noise, no emissions, and just as much power as gas-powered versions. Units are often available at a similar price as gas versions, and not only that, there are incentives available to replace gas models with electric ones.
Some of the locations on the above map have focused on an incentive approach rather than limitations. So in places that have boneheadedly made it illegal for local governments to restrict the use of gas leaf blowers like Texas has, cities like Austin and Dallas have nevertheless instituted incentive campaigns to help their residents and encourage switching over.
US PIRG’s page describes several policies that cities or states can implement to help reduce the impacts of these small polluting engines, and residents can certainly talk to their representatives and encourage movement on this issue.
And if you’re looking to get yourself some gas lawn equipment, keep an eye out for Electrek’s “Green Deals” posts where deals come up quite frequently. And check with your state or regional clean air regulator to see if any rebates are available – here’s California’s page and here’s Colorado’s, but as you can see from the map, there are incentives available elsewhere too.
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New York City just brought another EV fast-charging station online, this time in the Bronx, one of the city’s most underserved areas for clean transportation.
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has opened a new public fast-charging station at its White Plains Road Municipal Parking Field in the Bronx Park East section of the borough, at 2071 White Plains Road.
The site includes four DC fast chargers, three 50 kW units, and one 175 kW unit, which can give most EVs an 80% charge in about 20 minutes. Four additional Level 2 chargers can fully charge most vehicles in six to eight hours.
This new Bronx hub sits in a community with one of the city’s highest concentrations of Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) drivers. Nearly 1,000 TLC-licensed drivers live nearby, and another 1,500 live in adjacent neighborhoods. TLC drivers can sign up through the EV Connect app for a 15% discount on charging fees.
“Achieving a greener transportation future means investing in electric vehicle chargers that will help us say goodbye to fossil fuels,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, a former cab driver himself. “East Bronxites will benefit significantly from these new EV chargers, and we look forward to continuing this critical work to fulfill the Adams administration’s ambitious goals.”
Those goals include the Green Rides Initiative, which aims to make all high-volume for-hire vehicle trips zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible by 2030. The new Bronx station also moves the city closer to Mayor Adams’ PlaNYC target of ensuring that every New Yorker lives within 2.5 miles of a fast charger by 2035. With this latest installation, the share of New Yorkers who live near a fast charger jumps from 81% to 88%.
The Bronx currently has the fewest fast chargers of any borough, and most of the city’s existing stations are concentrated in higher-income areas of Manhattan and inner Brooklyn and Queens. NYC DOT says this new location is part of a push to make EV charging more equitable and accessible.
As of September 2025, 79,036 EVs are registered in New York City – about 25% of New York State’s EVs.
Read more: NYC’s newest EV charger hangs 10 feet high on a lamppost
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was one of the most affordable EVs you could lease in the US. Although the $7,500 EV credit has now expired, Hyundai is keeping the savings going with the 2026 model.
Hyundai extends EV deals for the 2026 IONIQ 5
Hyundai reduced prices on the 2026 IONIQ 5 by up to $9,800 earlier this month compared to the outgoing model. Starting at under $35,000, it’s now one of the most affordable EVs, putting it on par with the Chevy Equinox EV.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 remains a top-selling EV in the US, and may still be your best bet if you’re looking to go electric.
You can still lease the new 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range for as low as $289 per month. That’s only $10 more per month than before the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expired at the end of September. The offer is for a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
However, upgrading to the longer-range SE trim might be an even better option. The 2026 IONIQ 5 SE is listed at just $299 per month, even though it costs $2,500 more than the base model at $37,500.
The standard range model has an EPA-estimated driving range of 245 miles, while the SE trim offers considerably more, at up to 318 miles. For just 10$ more per month, a 30% improvement in range is a pretty sweet deal.
Hyundai is offering $4,500 in lease cash on the longer range 2026 IONIQ 5 SE, compared to just $750 for the base model.
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim | Driving Range (miles) | 2025 Starting Price | 2026 Starting Price* | Price Reduction |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | 245 | $42,600 | $35,000 | ($7,600) |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD | 318 | $46,650 | $37,500 | ($9,150) |
| IONIQ 5 SEL RWD | 318 | $49,600 | $39,800 | ($9,800) |
| IONIQ 5 Limited RWD | 318 | $54,300 | $45,075 | ($9,225) |
| IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD | 290 | $50,150 | $41,000 | ($9,150) |
| IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD | 290 | $53,100 | $43,300 | ($9,800) |
| IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD | 259 | $55,500 | $46,275 | ($9,225) |
| IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD | 269 | $58,200 | $48,975 | ($9,225) |
For those looking to save a little extra, Hyundai is still offering $11,000 in retail cash on 2025 IONIQ 5 models and 0% APR financing for 72 months. The 2025 IONIQ 5 can be leased from $189 per month until November 3. The offer is also for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing.
Interested in test-driving Hyundai’s electric SUV? You can use our link to find Hyundai IONIQ 5 models at a dealership near you.
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Californians just set another record for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption. In Q3 2025, residents bought 124,755 ZEVs – that’s nearly 1 in 3 new cars sold statewide. The 29.1% market share marks California’s highest quarterly total of ZEVs yet.
Governor Gavin Newsom called the milestone proof that Californians are all-in on clean transportation, even as the federal government moves in the opposite direction. “We’re nearing a third of all new vehicles sold in the fourth-largest economy on the planet being clean cars,” he said. “While Trump sells out American innovation to China, California will keep charging ahead on our path to a future of cleaner air.”
California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner added that the state’s massive charging expansion is paying off. Thanks to new investments, nearly every Californian now lives within 10 minutes of an EV fast charger. “Now, new EV owners can enjoy a great driving experience, bidding goodbye to smelly gas stations, messy oil changes, and costly engine tune-ups,” she said.
The state’s ZEV market is also growing more diverse. In Q1 2024, there were 105 ZEV models available; by Q1 2025, that number had climbed to 146. Of the 124,755 ZEVs sold in Q3, 108,685 were fully electric, nearly a 30% jump from Q2 2025.
Read more: California now has 68% more EV charger ports than gas nozzles
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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