Spring has arrived and Valley residents are encouraged to help improve air quality and quality of life by replacing gas-powered yard care equipment with zero-emission, electric alternatives through the Valley Air District’s Clean Green Yard Machines: Residential Program (CGYM). Money is widely available to help Valley residents go electric and get up to $250 back when trading in their old gas mower for an electric mower.

One program participant expressed her satisfaction with eliminating pollution and being able to care for her yard on her own.

“The new lawn mower is very easy—just push a button and it starts. I am so happy that I can mow my own lawn. Before it was a lot more work because I had to pull the starter cord with all my might and it did not matter how many times I pulled, I couldn’t turn it on. I had to rely on my husband, but now I can do it myself,” said grant recipient Alma Renteria.

The program also offers rebates for purchasing various residential electric yard care tools instead of their gas-powered counterparts, reducing air pollution in neighborhoods across the Valley and saving residents money. Participants receive up to $250 when trading in a gas mower in favor of electric, and up to $50 when making a direct purchase (no trade-in) of electric mowers and other electric yard care equipment such as edgers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, and pole saws. Residents in the AB 617 communities of South Central Fresno, Shafter and Stockton are eligible for enhanced incentive dollars when replacing their gas lawnmower for electric.

Gas-powered yard care equipment presents a significant source of localized air pollution in Valley neighborhoods. These small engines contain no emission controls and pollute substantially more than newer passenger vehicles. One gas mower produces the equivalent in emissions of 12 late-model cars operating for the same time.

Interested Valley residents should visit www.valleyair.org/CGYM for program guidelines and an application before purchasing new equipment. For additional information, contact District staff at grants@valleyair.org or call 559-230-5800.

The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and San Joaquin Valley air basin portions of Kern. For additional information about the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, visit www.valleyair.org or call 559-230-6000.