Greener Gardens bill would provide federal tax credits for electric and alternative-energy outdoor power equipment

If you've been considering trading in your gas lawn mower or tractor for a corded or cordless electric model through one of many government-sponsored mower-exchange programs, you could be getting some extra incentive.

The recently introduced Greener Gardens bill would provide a federal tax credit of 25 percent off the price up to $1,000 of an electric, hybrid, or alternative-energy mower or tractor as well as other lawn gear; the bill is intended to lower emissions from outdoor power equipment. (Perhaps we'll see rigs that look something like the fantasy solar-powered tractor shown.) See our May 2009 report on mowers and tractors and visit our buyer's guide to this lawn gear, where you'll find ratings of push, self-propelled, and riding mowers (report and ratings are available to subscribers).

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute trade group supports the bill, sponsored by a trio of Vermont members of Congress: senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter Welch. According to the OPEI, the proposed legislation would cover equipment that is powered by a motor drawing current from solar, electricity, or rechargeable or replacement batteries; is powered by alternative power sources and regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; or has a hybrid-electric drive train and/or cutting system powered by a generator or electrical-storage device combined with a small engine.

Cordless electric mowers are widely available, and electric riding mowers have started to appear on the market, including the Ariens AMP Rider.

But electric mowing isn't for everyone. Electric push mowers we've tested are limited by either an inconvenient power cord or a run time maxing out at about 45 minutes—with recharge times of 9 to 72 hours. And most did a lackluster job at mulching, bagging, and side-discharging. If you have a small lawn, however, an electric push mower might be a good choice.

Also note that two of our three CR Best Buy lawn tractors, $1,500 each, cost significantly less than any electric riding mower even after the tax credit and would better suit a property that's an acre or more in size.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter