Grants for alternative landscaping equipment
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.
Application materials
Request for proposals (p-f2-27-3a-fy20)
This document describes the Alternative Landscape Equipment Grant, including information on who may apply for funding, match requirements, activities eligible for funding, and other information that will help applicants submit an application. Applications are due no later than 4:00 pm Central Time on Friday, November 8, 2019.
Application form (p-f2-27-3b-fy20)
Affidavit of noncollusion (p-f2-27-3d-fy20)
Additional references
Sample grant agreement (p-f2-27-3c-fy20)
Project evaluation methods (p-f2-27-3e-fy20)
Handheld 2-cycle engine emissions calculator (p-sbap5-36)
During evaluation, the MPCA will determine each applicant’s emissions reductions and cost-effectiveness using this tool.
Questions and answers
Applicants must submit all questions to grants.pca@state.mn.us, subject: “Alternative Landscaping Grant Question.”
Alternative landscaping grant questions and answers
Grant successes
More than $173,000 in grants has already helped 66 businesses and organizations switch to electric-powered equipment, such as chainsaws, pole pruners, lawn mowers, string or hedge trimmers, and handheld or backpack blowers. These purchases will reduce annual air emissions by 185 tons of VOCs, 0.6 tons of nitrogen oxide, and 6.5 tons of fine particulates.
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
