Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Banning Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers by 2030, Using Electric Bills to Fund Transition

Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban gas-powered leaf blowers statewide and use electric bill surcharges to subsidize the transition to battery-powered equipment.

Senate Bill 319 would prohibit the sale of gas-powered handheld and backpack leaf blowers beginning in 2029 and ban their use statewide by 2030, according to the proposed legislation. State agencies and contractors working on state property would face even earlier requirements to transition to electric equipment.

The bill directs funding from Connecticut’s Public Benefits Charge, a surcharge embedded in electric bills, to finance the purchase of battery-powered lawn and garden equipment from 2026 through 2030. This charge, formally known as the systems benefits charge, currently funds various state-mandated programs including energy efficiency initiatives, renewable energy programs, and assistance for low-income households.

Under the proposed timeline, state agencies would be required to replace gas-powered lawn equipment with electric versions when existing tools reach the end of their useful life beginning in 2027. Contractors maintaining state property would face similar requirements, with gas-powered leaf blowers banned entirely on state property by 2030.

The legislation would push municipalities and regional school districts to comply through a reactivated Lawn Equipment Exchange Fund and state-run demonstrations aimed at speeding the transition. Private landscaping companies would have access to Green Bank loans to help cover the cost of new equipment.

The funding mechanism would require nearly all electricity customers to contribute to financing equipment they may never use, including renters, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses. Connecticut residents already face some of the highest electricity rates in the country.

Battery-powered equipment often carries higher upfront costs than gas alternatives, according to industry analysis. For professional landscapers, transitioning entire fleets can require substantial investment in charging infrastructure, additional batteries, and operational adjustments.

These costs typically get redistributed rather than eliminated. Contractors pass them on to customers, municipalities pass them on to taxpayers, and ratepayers help finance subsidies through their electric bills.

The legislation presents operational challenges as well. Battery tools can face runtime limitations for crews working full days, requiring multiple battery swaps and extended charging time.

Supporters of the measure argue electric equipment reduces emissions and noise pollution. Critics question whether the environmental gains justify the costs, particularly in a state where electricity prices are already elevated.

The bill represents part of a broader trend of using utility bills as vehicles for social and environmental policy. Because these charges are embedded in regulated rates rather than debated as line items in the state budget, they can grow with less public scrutiny than traditional government spending.

Over time, lawmakers have repeatedly expanded the scope of the public benefits charge to include policy priorities only loosely connected to electricity service. The proposed leaf blower legislation would add lawn equipment electrification to this growing list.

The structure of the bill follows a straightforward pattern: eliminate gas-powered equipment through mandates, then use ratepayer-funded subsidies to cushion the economic impact of compliance.

Senate Bill 319 remains under consideration by Connecticut lawmakers, with the earliest implementation phases beginning in 2026 if passed. The legislation would affect homeowners, professional landscapers, municipalities, and state agencies across Connecticut.

For households already struggling with high electricity costs, the additional charge would represent another burden on monthly utility bills, regardless of whether they own or use lawn equipment themselves.