Key Findings

1. House Bill 2051 would ban many small gas-powered motors in Washington state on the claim that this will reduce CO2 emissions.
2. Statewide CO2 emissions would not decline with the ban because the state already has a cap on CO2 emissions from gasoline which covers fuels for the engines covered by the ban.
3. The engines account for less than one percent of the state’s CO2 emissions, and reductions from a ban on small gas motors would be offset by increases elsewhere.
4. Sponsors of the bill tacitly admit that switching to electric motors increases costs by offering tax breaks and subsidies for local governments.
5. Ultimately the ban would increase costs but would not yield a reduction in CO2 emissions.

Introduction

When Washington’s cap on CO2 emissions took effect last year, Governor Inslee, legislators, and activists hailed it as a needed wide-ranging policy, claiming it would significantly reduce emissions from fuels that emit greenhouse gasses. Despite that claim, legislators and activists continue to add new regulations on top of the existing expensive program that purports to reduce emissions. 

For example, House Bill 2051, a bill to ban small gas-powered engines in the state – such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and snow blowers – is being promoted as a bill that would supposedly help the state reduce carbon emissions.
This claim is not true.  Like other similar regulations, the proposal would not reduce emissions. Banning small engines would simply duplicate the existing strict rules covered by existing climate laws. The new proposal would only add expense to consumers without reducing any of the risks posed by climate change.

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