legislative action to eliminate gas powered leaf blowers
QCPDX is working with city, county and state officials to establish common sense regulations that will protect the health and safety of Oregon workers and residents, and protect the environment from the dangerous effects of gas powered leaf blowers.  We know that to bring about an effective and equitable transition away from gas equipment requires a collaboration of many perspectives. Since 2018 we have been meeting with concerned residents, landscapers, contractors, public health and air quality experts, nature experts, and local city, county and state leaders. Below are some of our accomplishments and the work that is in progress. 


Portland Resolution 37463

QCPDX has been working with the city of Portland, and the late Commissioner Nick Fish and his staff for over a year on ways to eliminate the use of gas powered leaf blowers in Portland.  In December of 2019, the city council passed a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Fish, which mandates that the city bureaus transition away from gas powered leaf blowers.  The resolution also calls for a working group to consider an equitable city-wide transition to electric and battery-operated leaf blowers. Read the full bill here: Portland City Council Council Resolution – 37463 Direct City bureaus to transition to electric or battery operated leaf blowers.


House Bill 3350 

QCPDX worked with Oregon Representative Keny-Guyer, and Senators Dembrow and Fagan to introduce a bill which would prohibit the use or sale of two-cycle gasoline powered leaf blowers in Oregon.  The bill received a hearing in the House Committee on Environment under Chairman Helm during the 2019 legislative session. Read the full bill here.   We are working on a new statewide bill to be introduced in the 2021 legislative session based on the learnings from this first attempt.


Multnomah County Resolution 

QCPDX is working with the office of Multnomah County Commissioner Vega Pederson to enact a resolution similar to Portland Resolution 37463 for passage in 2020.  This would require that county resources transition away from gas powered leaf blowers for all county work and would convene a working group to coordinate with the city of Portland on equitable county-wide transition to electric and battery-operated leaf blowers.