The Wichita City Council has approved a pilot program that will provide rebates to residents who replace a gas-powered lawn mower with an electric mower.
The program is part of the city’s efforts to improve its air quality and reduce emissions that raise the ozone level in the community. Penny Feist with the city’s Public Works department said that non-road mobile sources make up 25 to 36 percent of local emissions. Lawnmowers and other lawn equipment are estimated to account for 50 to 90 percent of the non-road sources.
The program will offer a $50 rebate to a resident who purchases an electric lawn mower. The program will be covered by $10,000 from air quality program funds, and that is funded through an air quality grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The city will release more details on the rebate program in the coming weeks.
