SB 525 Eliminating Small Combustion Engines in Oregon

Sharing from RPC Member IREM Oregon-Columbia River Chapter:

Senate Bill 525 requiring the removal of small combustion engines with 25 or less horsepower used in landscaping is making its way through the legislative process in Oregon. As 2023 Chapter President, I am reaching out on behalf of the Board to our Landscaping Industry Partners to share that there is a hearing on SB 525 today at 1pm. Link available here: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Committees/SEE/2023-03-23-13-00 [olis.oregonlegislature.gov]

Please let us know if you are providing testimony, and if you would like to testify on behalf of the IREM Oregon-Columbia River Chapter Board, we are prepared to oppose the mandate taking a similar position to BOMA and other local associations – we support overall sustainability efforts, but oppose high cost, short-timeline mandates. Some talking points below:

• Battery powered small engine equipment is often less effective than fuel-powered equipment
• The bill applies beyond lawn care equipment and may have unintended consequences
• Fully electric alternatives may not be commercially available, and zero-emission options come at a much higher initial purchase cost to businesses
• Businesses would need to upgrade workshops to accommodate charging needs and purchase backup batteries to have onsite during jobs
• As the movement toward electrification progresses, there are still unanswered questions about power supply to the grid as electric consumption increases