The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District’s (MDAQMD) annual program to reduce emissions from gas-powered landscaping equipment has a new name, but the mission remains the same.

The Landscaping Equipment Alternatives Funding program – or LEAF – offers incentive funding through significant discounts on battery-powered STIHL-brand residential landscaping equipment when participants trade in their working, gas-powered equivalents. The District rebranded the program to help residents throughout its communities better identify its purpose.

While the program itself has been around for nearly 20 years, participation has increased each of the last eight years, and 2025 looks to be no different. Residents with working, gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, edgers, leaf-blowers, and chainsaws can take that equipment to one of five participating dealers in Apple Valley, Blythe, Hesperia, Lucerne Valley or Phelan. Once they’ve surrendered the old equipment, participators can purchase battery-powered STIHL equivalents (lawnmower for lawnmower, chainsaw for chainsaw, etc.) at a reduced cost.

“We’ve seen incredible involvement from our residents over the last several years,” said MDAQMD Executive Director Brad Poiriez. “With every gas-powered lawnmower, chainsaw, leaf-blower and the like traded in, we’re benefitting ambient air quality in neighborhoods throughout our jurisdiction.”

According to EPA statistics, gas-powered mowers contribute 5% of U.S. air pollution and estimates indicate more than 17 million gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, is spilled each year while refueling lawn equipment. That’s more than all the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez in the Gulf of Alaska.

The LEAF program is exclusively open to residents living within MDAQMD boundaries through July 31. Visit mdaqmd.ca.gov/LEAF to learn more about available equipment and discounts as well as participating dealer locations.