Charge Your Yard Coming Again 2026

Utah DAQ Offers Up to $3,000 to Swap Gas Lawn Equipment for Electric

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah residents and businesses can now receive financial incentives to swap their gas-powered lawn care equipment for clean, electric alternatives through a state program aimed at reducing air pollution.

The Utah Division of Air Quality’s (DAQ) "Charge Your Yard" initiative offers residents a $200 rebate and businesses up to $3,000 to offset the cost of transitioning away from highly polluting "two-stroke" gas engines. To receive the funds, participants must recycle their old gas-powered equipment and purchase new battery-electric models.

Funded by an EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, the program targets a surprising but significant source of local air pollution. Small gas engines in 2-stroke yard equipment lack the effective emission controls found in modern cars. Using a gas-powered leaf blower for just one hour produces the same amount of emissions as driving a car 727 miles—roughly the distance from Ogden to Disneyland. These tools release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides that directly contribute to the unhealthy haze often seen along the Wasatch Front. The solution is parked in our own garages.

"Switching to electric yard equipment is an easy and practical way to reduce smog and noise in our neighborhoods," said Bryce Bird, director of the Utah DAQ.

Acknowledging that the initial cost of electric equipment can be a barrier, Bird noted that the program's rebates are designed to make the transition accessible. "We want residents to experience how these tools are remarkably quiet, produce zero tailpipe emissions, and eliminate the need for messy gas cans, oil changes, or spark plug replacements," he said.

The shift away from gas-powered equipment is particularly crucial in Utah, where mountain valleys act like giant bowls that trap pollutants close to the ground. According to DAQ monitoring, this geography creates two distinct challenges: winter inversions that build up fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and hot summer days where emissions bake into ground-level ozone.

By incentivizing the switch to electric alternatives, the DAQ hopes to clear the air one yard at a time.

For full eligibility requirements, applications, and further details on how to participate, visit ChargeYourYard.utah.gov.