WSU Helps Sponsor Electric Mower Exchange
OGDEN, Utah – Running a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour is equal to driving a car 160 miles. Weber State University’s sustainability offices, in partnership with the Weber-Morgan and Davis County Health departments, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and the Utah Clean Air Partnership are hosting “Cut Pollution – Mow Electric” to promote cleaner air and healthier lives in Utah.
The Cut Pollution - Mow Electric lottery will help 762 Utahns exchange gas-powered for electric mowers. Those who enter the lottery and are selected through a randomized process can exchange their operable gas-powered mower for a new Kobalt 40-volt cordless electric lawn mower with mulching capability for $100 plus tax and a 3 percent credit-card fee. Fee waivers are available for those in need. Typical retail price of the electric mower is $329.
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Utahns who live in areas that regularly experience poor air quality as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, are eligible for the program. Residents can check their Zip Code at weber.edu/mowelectric/eligibility.html to see if they qualify.
“While a single mower may not seem like a major source of pollution, the emissions are relatively high when compared to an average car, and they are generated in close proximity to the person pushing the mower,” said Alice Mulder, WSU’s Sustainability Practices and Research Center director. “If all 762 of the electric mowers available through the program are used for one hour, in place of a gas-powered mower, we will have avoided the equivalent emissions of a car driving nearly 122,000 miles. That is significant.”
Those who want to participate can enter the lottery beginning March 1, applications will be accepted throughout the month. Winners will be notified by email April 6. Those selected will have three days to pay $100 in advance and choose an exchange time on Saturday, April 21 at the WSU Ogden campus W4 parking lot and the WSU Davis campus parking lot (2470 University Park Blvd., Layton).
The Mow Electric program has 762 mowers available. Funding was made possible with grants from the Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR), the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Weber State’s sustainability offices, and the Davis County and Weber-Morgan Health departments.
“When it comes to addressing Utah's air quality issues, there are no perfect answers but there are practical solutions,” said Thom Carter, UCAIR executive director. “UCAIR believes that this program is one of those practical solutions, and we encourage eligible Utahns to take advantage of this great opportunity."
Learn more by attending one of the workshops in March 13, 15, 20, 22. Visit weber.edu/MowElectric for more news about the program.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Allison Barlow Hess, public relations director
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu- Contact:
Jennifer Bodine, WSU sustainability manager
801-626-6421 • Jenniferbodine@weber.edu