βCaliforniaβs first-in-the-nation law banning the sale of new gas-powered mowers and blowers also targets a machine that has become increasingly popular with consumers in recent years β portable generators. As people face power blackouts β in areas where utilities have cut power to curb wildfire threats, for example β many have turned to generators as a backup energy source. The new law, AB 1346 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto), was signed Oct. 9 by Gov. Newsom. Bermanβs bill requires the sale of new small off-road engines to be zero-emission by 2024, or when the Air Resources Board says the cutoff is feasible, whichever is later. βSmallβ means less than 25 horsepower, and portable gas-powered generators typically have half that level, or less. Portable gas-powered generators would be phased out by 2028.β
Couple this with shutting down Diablo Canyon, the provider of 1/5 it's base load with no plan whatsoever will work great.