What about landscapers’ fears for their businesses?

Ultimately the switch to battery leaf blowers strengthens—not weakens—our local landscaping industry and everyone that lives and works in our township can be safer and healthier.

Changes in technology are often accompanied by fears of the unknown. But there are no media or anecdotal reports from anywhere in the country of landscapers actually being driven out of business following bans on gas blowers. In places like Montclair NJ, Bethesda MD, and Evanston IL, small and large contractors alike have continued to thrive. The reasons are simple: the total cost of ownership for electric tools is lower and customers want them.

Smaller firms often start with handheld units and a few backpack blowers, switching gradually. Their fuel and maintenance savings are about $1,100 per blower per year. Larger firms enjoy economies of scale with bulk purchasing, fleet discounts, and shared battery banks across crews. STIHL, Greenworks Commercial, and EGO are currently offering 10–20% off fleet orders and promotions of a free battery with the purchase of two. Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection Small Business Advantage Program reimburses up to $7,000 for electric equipment and chargers.

Some worry that large properties might be harder to service under a gas ban. Yet in Montgomery County, MD, where electric-only crews now maintain parks and campuses larger than any here in Lower Merion, operations are running smoothly. Mobile charging hubs and quick-swap battery stations allow crews to work full days without interruption.

The reality is if local landscapers were going out of business as a result of enacted bans, local news outlets would be reporting on the damage to the business community. But we’re not hearing these stories. If prices were skyrocketing for customers, we’d hear about it. We’re not. Lawsuits filed by landscapers and their allies after bans have been enacted tell the same story. They have failed because their hardship claims are unsubstantiated.

Businesses adapt; customers adjust; communities benefit. This ordinance, with its phase-out period, helps every landscaper—large or small—get ahead of the curve. Ultimately the switch to battery leaf blowers strengthens—not weakens—our local landscaping industry and everyone that lives and works in our township can be safer and healthier.

IF THEY CAN DO IT
The movement to transition from gas blowers to safer, more cost-effective alternatives is sweeping the nation. Here’s a success story with actionable lessons for all municipalities.