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In recent weeks, there has been increasing momentum among citizen groups advocating for a ban on gas-powered blowers within the city of Portland and Multnomah County. Yesterday, Fox 12 Oregon visited our office to document the potential impact of such a ban on landscaping practices.
HISTORY:
In 2006, the Portland City Council mandated that leaf blower operators transition to equipment emitting no more than 65 decibels at a distance of 50 feet. Subsequently, in 2021, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved a phased elimination of gas-powered blowers within city operations and among contracted service providers, with the goal of complete eradication by 2025.
In conjunction with the City of Portland, the Board established a workgroup tasked with exploring an equitable, community-wide transition to sustainable alternatives. Last Friday, Commissioner Rubio announced her intention to propose an outright ban on gas-powered blowers sometime in 2024, with Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson pledging her support for enforcing the ban.
While several bills restricting gas blower use have been introduced in the Oregon Legislature (in 2019, 2021, and 2023), none have progressed beyond committee.
In response to the growing local and national attention surrounding this issue, the National Association of Landscape Professionals, in collaboration with the American Green Zone Alliance and the Oregon Association of Landscape Professionals, hosted a Symposium at the Nike Campus this past Monday.
Our industry associations and most contractors in Portland are committed to a responsible transition from gas to electric equipment but do not support an outright ban. Instead, we advocate for education and incentives to facilitate this transition in a natural and cost-effective manner for all contractors and consumers.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide further updates. In the meantime, we encourage you to view the symposium presentations here.
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