Join the South Portland Sustainability Department for the grand opening of the South Portland Electric Tool Library on Saturday, June 3 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The tool library features all-electric EGO lawn care tools, which South Portland residents over the age of 18 can borrow to use at home free of charge. Residents will use their South Portland Public Library card to sign out the equipment.
The South Portland Sustainability Department announced the grand opening of the South Portland Electric Tool Library on Saturday, June 3 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Courtesy photo
The South Portland Electric Tool Library (fondly referred to as the SPETL), will help residents transition their land-care equipment away from fossil fuels, and help us meet our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. We are promoting a transition away from this type of gas-powered equipment because it is acutely polluting.
According to the California Air Resources Board, just one hour of gas-powered leaf blower use emits the air pollution equivalent to driving 1,100 miles. Electric lawncare equipment is easy to use, and it is also quieter and requires less maintenance than conventional gas-powered equipment.
People are realizing this and making the switch. To date, we have given out more than $8,000 in rebates to more than 40 households for the purchase of electric lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and string trimmers through the city’s Electrify Everything! program.
Check out the link below for more information, we have lots more money for rebates: https://southportland.org/departments/sustainability-office/buildings-energy/electrify/.
The SPETL follows a series of initiatives we have embarked on to help people move toward cleaner energy and build community resilience with initiatives like Electrify Everything!, installing EV chargers, and promoting 100 Resilient Yards.
The electric too library provides residents the opportunity to use electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and edgers at home, instead of having to purchase their own equipment. It’s also an opportunity for residents to try out these electric tools before making a purchase. Rentals are free to all library-card carrying South Portland residents over 18.
Located at the South Portland Transfer Station (929 Highland Ave.), both the SPETL and Swap Shop will be open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through the end of October. Fall hours will be updated at a later date. Please follow @SoPoSustainability on Instagram for up-to-date SPETL and Swap Shop information.
Grant funding for the SPETL is provided by Maine DEP and all EGO electric lawn care equipment has been purchased in partnership with Maine Hardware.
Our Sustainable City is a recurring column in the Sentry intended to provide residents with news and information about sustainability initiatives in South Portland. Follow the Sustainability Office on Instagram @soposustainability.
Steve Genovese is an AmeriCorps/Greater Portland Council of Governments Resilience Corps fellow serving in the South Portland Sustainability Office through September 2023. He can be reached at sgenovese@southportland.org.
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