The debate over gas-powered leaf blowers is gaining momentum in Radnor Township this Earth Week, as officials consider whether to follow neighboring Lower Merion Township in banning the machines.<\/p>\n
With spring cleaning underway, some residents said the noise and exhaust have become too much.<\/p>\n
“The problem with them is manyfold, but noise is the main thing,” James Higgins, a Radnor Township homeowner, said. “They’re so loud, they disturb the peaceful situation here.”<\/p>\n
Frustrations spilled into a town hall meeting Thursday night, where several residents urged township leaders to ban gas-powered blowers. Some cited health concerns tied to emissions.<\/p>\n
“I would appreciate it if they were banned,” Havertown resident Deirdre Wright, who visits Radnor Township, said.<\/p>\n
Others, however, said a ban could come at a cost, especially for landscapers.<\/p>\n
Dave Mooney, a store manager at Gasper Hardscape and Building Supply in Warminster, Bucks County, said his crews work often in Radnor Township. Mooney said switching to battery-powered blowers would be expensive.<\/p>\n
“If we were to have to replace new equipment, it’s $300 to $400 for a good backpack leaf blower,” Mooney said. “For a battery-powered one, initial investment, it is probably double that, but if you need additional batteries to last a longer time, it may even be triple that.”<\/p>\n
He said the industry is already preparing for a possible shift.<\/p>\n
“We are in close contact with some of the manufacturers who have been putting a lot into research and development, and we’re staying up on the game because we know it’s coming,” Mooney said.<\/p>\n
Some residents also questioned whether electric blowers would solve the problem, saying they are not necessarily quieter or as effective as gas-powered models.<\/p>\n
Township Commissioner Cathy Agnew said officials are listening to both sides as they weigh their options.<\/p>\n
“We have a lovely, friendly community, and so we know we’d like to keep it that way,” Agnew said.<\/p>\n
The township is expected to make a decision on the proposed ban in late fall or early winter.<\/p>\n
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