Grants for Alternative Landscaping Equipment

This is a great opportunity from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for small, local businesses to GREEN-UP their services.

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/regulations/grants-alternative-landscaping-equipment?utm_campaign=landscape&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

MPCA is offering approximately $150,000 in grant funding to replace 2-cycle gasoline-powered landscaping and snow removal equipment with electric-powered equipment.

• Application deadline: November 8, 2019 (4:00 p.m. Central Time)

• Eligible applicants: Businesses under 500 employees, governmental agencies, educational institutions, tribes, or nongovernmental organizations (e.g., nonprofit or association) with any number of employees. Equipment used near populations sensitive to air pollution, in environmental justice areas, and in communities with higher air pollution will tend to score highest. All equipment being replaced must be scrapped or otherwise rendered inoperable.

• Maximum grant award: $24,000 with a 50% minimum match.

Grants can be combined with a small business loan up to $75,000 for capital equipment purchases that help meet or exceed environmental regulations.

Background

Gas-powered landscaping equipment is a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other air emissions, particularly in urban areas. The average gas-powered push mower emits over 14 pounds of air pollution an hour — the same amount as driving your car 200 miles! These pollutants impact the health of equipment operators and the populated communities they serve.

Replacing summer or winter 2-cycle gas-powered equipment with electric-powered eliminates localized air pollution and can have the following benefits:

• Lighter - Easy to use and carry across distances and multiple locations.

• Powerful - Equal performance to gas in most applications. Often just a 20-minute charge will last for hours.

• Saves money - No more buying gas. Also less maintenance and lost productivity from being in the shop or from flooding.

• Safer for employees - Eliminate engine exhaust, reducing odors and respiratory effects; lessen hearing loss; ease cord-pulling and lifting-related injuries; and prevent burns.

• Community health - Reduce air pollution in urban areas and lessen noise disruptions