Utah is paying lawn companies to trade in their noisy, gassy machines

Driving the news: The state is offering up to $3,000 to lawn care companies to ditch their two-stroke engines and switch to electric equipment.

• The deadline to apply is April 24, so you don't have long to beg your provider to sign up — and ask your neighbors to do the same.

Why it matters: Lawn equipment is a leading source of air pollution in northern Utah, emitting 8 tons per day of harmful gasses called volatile organic compounds, according to state environmental regulators.

• That's second only to cars (13 tons) and ahead of industry (6 tons).
• A gas-powered leaf blower causes as much pollution as driving a car 727 miles.

Yes, and: Equipment powered by a two-stroke engine is six to eight times as loud as electric equipment, per the company Leaf Blowers Direct.

Zoom out: More than 100 local governments nationwide have restricted gas-powered leaf blower use in recent years, Yahoo News reports.

Erin's thought bubble: I didn't realize how much noise lawn machines brought to my neighborhood until I began working from home during the pandemic — or tried to work despite the racket.

• I got an electric mower, string and hedge trimmers, leaf blower and chainsaw — all far cheaper than gas-powered versions.