California continues to lead the nation when it comes to efforts to clean up polluted air. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency has effectively take the state's new, tighter emissions standards for small engines, such as those that power lawnmowers, and made them apply nationwide.
California won a waiver from the EPA late last year, and the new rules went into effect here in January. They had faced stiff opposition from Sen. Kit Bond, R-Briggs & Stratton, who said he was trying to protect jobs in his home state of Missouri. Sen Dianne Feinstein led the charge to get California the waiver, and now the rule will apply across the country.
That's good news. Small engines produce about 7% of all smog-forming pollutants from mobile sources in the U.S.
The EPA estimates that by 2030, the proposed standards would eliminate 2.7 million tons of carbon monoxide, 630,000 tons of hydrocarbon emissions, 98,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions and 63,000 tons of particulate matter.
"Sen. Kit Bond, R-Briggs & Stratton"
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In the early nineties I was wined and dined by the Echo Co. in Illinois. They got a group of landscape professionals together to brainstorm. We had to sign a 5 year secrecy contract. What were they working on? With Energizer they were developing commercial grade products run on batteries. It seemed they were very close. I do not know what happened. Back then we told them that they needed to get ahead of the curve on noise and air pollutants.I'm not against reasonable standards that reduce pollutants.The costs will find their way to the operator/consumer.It may affect their choice.Banning these items is not reasonable.
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