2024 -- S 2277

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LC004825

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2025 BATTERY-POWERED

LEAF BLOWER PILOT REBATE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, Lauria, Gu, Euer, and DiMario

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 6.3

2025 BATTERY-POWERED LEAF BLOWER PILOT REBATE AND EDUCATION

PROGRAM

     42-6.3-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "2025 Battery-Powered Leaf Blower

Pilot Rebate and Education Program."

     42-6.3-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Battery-powered leaf blower" or "e-blower" means a battery-powered electric device

that propels air out of a nozzle to move debris such as leaves and grass cuttings. The term includes

a hand-held or back-pack configuration of a leaf blower.

     (2) "DEM" means the department of environmental management.

     (3) "OER" means the office of energy resources.

     (4) "Pilot rebate program" and "rebate program" means the pilot rebate program operated

by OER and provided for in this chapter, as more fully described in § 42-6.3-4.

     42-6.3-3. Purpose.

     The purpose of this chapter shall be to reduce air and noise pollution by helping commercial

landscapers adopt zero-emissions technology, benefitting the health of landscape workers and

surrounding communities. This shall be accomplished through a pilot rebate program for the

purchase of battery-powered leaf blowers and an education program to help landscaping

professionals prepare to succeed with zero-emissions equipment.

     42-6.3-4. Pilot rebate program.

     (a) There is hereby established a pilot rebate program to be operated through the OER for

the purchase of battery-powered leaf blowers. This rebate program shall be funded by an initial

appropriation from the general assembly in the amount of three hundred fifty thousand dollars

($350,000).

     (b) Professional landscaper businesses registered with either the Rhode Island secretary of

state, or the department of business regulation, or the department of labor and training, or who are

licensed as operating a landscaping business by any of those entities, shall be eligible to receive a

rebate up to one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) on the purchase of a battery-powered leaf

blower and related batteries, with a limit of two (2) rebates per registered entity pursuant to the

provisions of subsection (d) of this section, through this rebate program. Nonprofit entities and

government entities shall not be eligible to participate in the rebate program. Any person signing

an application for the rebate program shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age in order to qualify

for the rebate.

     (c) The application process for the rebate program shall be as follows:

     (1) An applicant shall submit an application for the rebate, including proof that the

applicant is a Rhode Island business registered or licensed as set forth in subsection (b) of this

section. Applications shall be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

     (2) Approved applicants shall receive a voucher for the rebate and a proof of disposal form.

     (3) After receiving the voucher, the applicant shall then purchase an e-blower in

compliance with the provisions of this section. The voucher shall be valid only on the purchase of

a new e-blower and related batteries. Eligible e-blowers shall be battery powered. The e-blower

shall be purchased from a retail store physically located in Rhode Island. Online purchases shall be

valid only if the e-blower is purchased from an online retailer with a direct association or prior

agreement with a local Rhode Island retail store. Purchasing an e-blower online and then arranging

for pickup at a local Rhode Island address without a pre-existing agreement shall not be considered

a valid purchase for purposes of the rebate program.

     (4) The applicant shall subsequently dispose of a gas-powered leaf blower(s) owned or

used by the applicant, consistent with resource recovery corporation guidelines, and submit a

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complete proof of disposal form with the stamp or signature from the discard site. Leaf blowers

which are turned in for disposal shall be rendered unusable and shall not be resold; provided that,

these leaf blowers may be recycled for scrap metal.

     (i) If an electric handheld model is purchased, either a handheld or backpack model shall

be turned in.

     (ii) If an electric backpack model is purchased, a backpack blower shall be turned in.

     (5) Within sixty (60) days of receiving a voucher, the applicant shall return the voucher,

copy of sales receipt of the e-blower, and proof of disposal to receive reimbursement. The receipt

shall include the purchase date of the new e-blower, the purchase price, and proof that Rhode Island

sales tax was applied during the transaction. Applicants shall also:

     (i) Provide the e-blower serial number, make and model; and

     (ii) Applicants shall pledge to maintain ownership and operation of the e-blower for at least

one year after purchase.

     (6) Applicants that receive a rebate shall be required to complete a bi-annual blower usage

survey to be used by the State of Rhode Island for future rebate program considerations.

     (d) The rebate amount shall be limited to two (2) e-blower rebates of up to one thousand

five hundred dollars ($1,500) each, per registered entity, based upon the purchase price of the new

e-blower(s) or batteries. The amount of rebates a registered entity may receive shall not exceed

three thousand dollars ($3,000) in total.

     (e) To qualify for the rebate program, the purchase date shall be within the rebate program

dates, which shall commence January 1, 2025, and end January 1, 2026. Rebates shall not be

provided to purchases made before or after these dates.

     (f) Rebate recipients shall independently select and purchase their own e-blower and

related batteries and assume all liability for such products.

     (g) Applications shall be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Rebate processing times

may vary. The rebate shall not include Rhode Island taxes, or shipping fees.

     (h) The OER shall have the right to amend or terminate this rebate program at any time

when funding for the program expires. The OER may also request continuance of the program if

the OER determines that the program merits continued funding and operation.

     42-6.3-5. Education and training.

     (a) The OER and DEM shall partner to develop and provide educational opportunities for

professional landscapers to learn best practices and safety for battery-powered landscaping

equipment. As the landscaping industry is shifting to electric operations, this training will help

Rhode Islanders prepare for continued success in a changing industry. Fifty thousand dollars

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($50,000) of the appropriation authorized pursuant to this chapter shall be designated to fund this

education and training.

     (b) Components of the education program shall include:

     (1) In-person demonstrations of battery-powered landscaping equipment where

participants can try out equipment. These events shall offer information in multiple languages,

including, but not limited to, Spanish and English, in order to reach as broad an audience as

possible, and shall be held in different counties to ensure accessibility throughout the state.

     (2) Online or in-person classes shall cover topics such as:

     (i) Health and environmental costs of two (2) stroke engines and other gas-powered

equipment;

     (ii) State of the art and future prospects of electric landscaping technology;

     (iii) Batteries for landscaping equipment;

     (iv) Safe handling and storage, charging, life cycle, disposal, and recycling of electric and

battery-operated landscaping tools and batteries;

     (v) Financing and return on investment for electric equipment;

     (vi) How to equip a landscaping business with battery-powered equipment;

     (vii) Successful strategies for managing a battery-powered landscaping business; and

     (viii) Low-impact landscaping practices, such as mulching leaves around trees and shrubs

and mulching into lawn.

     (c) The OER, in consultation with the department of environmental management, shall

provide outreach in promoting the program through relevant media and professional organizations,

and printed and online media. The OER shall strive to broadly disseminate information about the

program in order to reach all communities in Rhode Island, and shall prepare materials in multiple

languages, including, but not limited to, English and Spanish. This outreach shall include basic

information about gas and electric leaf blowers as described in subsection (b) of this section, as

well as the rebate program. The OER and the department of environmental management shall post

this information, on their respective websites.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2025 BATTERY-POWERED

LEAF BLOWER PILOT REBATE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM

***

     This act would establish a pilot program for battery powered leaf blower pilot rebate and

education program in an effort to reduce air and noise pollution by helping commercial landscapers

adopt zero-emissions technology, as well as benefit the health of landscape workers and

surrounding communities. This objective would be accomplished through a pilot rebate program

for the purchase of battery-powered leaf blowers and an education program to help landscaping

professionals prepare to succeed with zero-emissions equipment with an initial appropriation from

the general assembly in the amount of three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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