Colorado cracks down on gas-powered lawn equipment on state properties

Colorado state environmental regulators unanimously approved a measure that will restrict the use of certain gas-powered lawn equipment on state property. 

The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted 8-0 last week to ban gas-powered push lawn mowers and handheld landscaping tools that are under 25 horsepower, per a Denver ABC affiliate. The new rules will also ban the same lawn equipment if it is under 10 horsepower on public property across the Rocky Mountains' Front Range, located west of Denver. 

The rule will go into effect next year, but it will not impact private property. 

Regulators hope the move will be the "first step" in phasing out gas-powered landscaping equipment in Colorado, according to Colorado Newsline. 

The rule also includes a nonbinding suggestion for Democratic Gov. Jared Polis to look into expanding the regulations by next year. 

The rule states: "The Commission received testimony noting that the market is already trending in this direction and support[s] the acceleration of this market transition."

The state regulations come amid concerns that the federal government could issue nationwide regulations on gas-powered equipment.

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