Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Program

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible to receive a rebate under the Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Program.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
• Only professional Rhode Island landscaping businesses are eligible.
• Eligible businesses must be located in Rhode Island, registered and in good standing with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
• Residents, non-profit organizations, and government entities are not eligible for rebates under this program.

To qualify for a rebate under the Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Program, applicants must purchase leaf blowers that meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Only electric, battery-powered leaf blowers are eligible.
2. Handheld and backpack leaf blowers are eligible.
3. Additional batteries purchased for the intended use of powering the leaf blower are eligible to count towards total costs.
   • Limit of 2 batteries per leaf blower.
   • Proof of battery purchase must be submitted within the initial application and cannot be submitted additionally at a later date.
4. Leaf blowers must be purchased new from a physical retail store located in RI, either online or in-person. Leaf blowers purchased from private sellers are not eligible.
   • Online purchases will be considered valid only if made directly through the website of a retail store with a physical location in Rhode Island.   

Lawn mowers, string trimmers, and any other landscape equipment or accessories that are not leaf blowers are not eligible for rebates.

Leaf blowers must be purchased on or after the program launch date, November 21, 2024. Rebates are not retroactive to past purchases.

Please follow the guidelines below to apply for the electric leaf blower rebate program. Additional information or documents may be necessary to complete the application on a case-by-case basis. 

1. Applicants must purchase an eligible electric leaf blower before applying for the electric leaf blower rebate program.
2. Only purchases made on or after the program launch date of November 21, 2024, are eligible.
   1. The online application portal will close at 11:59 PM on June 30, 2025. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for a rebate—no exceptions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to act promptly to secure funding, as this program operates on a limited budget and is expected to reach capacity quickly.
3. Applicants must submit a photo or scan of the sales receipt that includes the purchase date and purchase price of the leaf blower.
4. Applicants must submit a photo and receipt that proves they disposed of their existing gas-powered leaf blower. 
5. Signing applicants must provide proof of age (valid driver’s license or valid state-issued ID).
6. Applicant must provide proof of business license or registration with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
   • Businesses must be in good standing with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
7. Applicants must provide the leaf blower’s serial number, manufacturer, and model.
8. Applicants must pledge to maintain ownership and operation of the leaf blower for at least 3 years after purchase.
9. Applicants must pledge to use the equipment primarily within Rhode Island for commercial purposes.
10. Applicants must cover any additional costs of the leaf blower that exceed the awarded rebate amount.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check all program-related emails and the program website for status updates and requests for additional information or documents required to complete the application.

If approved, OER will award the appropriate rebate amount directly to the applicant in a single payment, by check, within four to six (4-6) weeks from the date of final approval. Processing times may vary.

The rebate amounts for the electric leaf blower rebate program are based on percentages of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount. Please note that the electric leaf blower rebate program will award the recipient whichever amount is less. 

Standard Rebate: 

Save $1,000.00 or 50% (whichever is less) of the purchase price of an electric leaf blower and 2 additional related batteries. Each leaf blower rebate is limited to 2 related batteries, in addition to any batteries that come with the blower. Applicants may receive a maximum of 2 rebates in total.

High Asthma Rate Increased Rebate: 

Save up to an additional $250.00 of the purchase price of an electric leaf blower and related batteries. Limited to qualified businesses that are located in the following municipalities with the highest rates of asthma-related emergency department visits¹:

• Central Falls
• Pawtucket
• Providence
• Westerly
• Woonsocket

Applicants must contribute at least 10% of total cost of equipment.

¹ Municipalities with the highest asthma rates in the state are determined by RIDOH data on Rhode Island Cities/Towns by Rate of asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits, 2022.

Applicants must submit all the documents below to be eligible to receive a rebate from the electric leaf blower rebate program.

• Rebate Application.
• Copy of valid driver’s license, or state issued ID.
• Proof of Business registration through the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
  • Business must be based in Rhode Island and in good standing with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
• Photo of purchased electric leaf blower.
• Photo of additional related batteries purchased.
• Electric leaf blower sales receipt that includes the purchase date and purchase price.
  • Provide sales receipt that includes the purchase date and purchase price for all related batteries, if applicable.
• Copy of the manufacturers or retail store document (or specification sheet) that includes the electric leaf blower’s serial number, manufacturer and model.
• A completed and signed W-9 Form (attached to the application).

Items can be uploaded as photos, saved screenshots, or PDFs.

As a condition for receiving a leaf blower rebate, you (the applicant/purchaser) must comply with the requirements below. Eligible applicants must meet requirements that include the following:

Rebate Specifics:

• Standard Rebate: $1,000.00 or 50% (whichever is less) of the purchase price of an electric leaf blower and 2 additional related batteries.
• High Asthma Rate Increased Rebate: Save an additional $250.00 of the purchase price of an electric leaf blower and related batteries.
• To qualify for the high asthma rate increased rebate qualified businesses must be located in these municipalities with the highest rates of asthma-related emergency department visits[1]:
  • Central Falls
  • Pawtucket
  • Providence
  • Westerly
  • Woonsocket
• Each leaf blower rebate is limited to 2 related batteries, in addition to any batteries that come with the blower.
• Applicants may receive a maximum of 2 rebates in total for the lifetime of the program.
• Only purchases made on or after the program launch date of November 21, 2024, are eligible.
  • The online application portal will close at 11:59 PM on June 30, 2025. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for a rebate—no exceptions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to act promptly to secure funding, as this program operates on a limited budget and is expected to reach capacity quickly.
• Applicants must maintain ownership and operation of the electric leaf blower for at least 3 years after purchase.
• Applicants must contribute at least 10% of total cost of equipment.

Applicant Requirements:

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible to receive a rebate under the Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Program.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be a professional Rhode Island landscaping or lawn care businesses.
• Eligible businesses must be Rhode Island based businesses registered and in good standing with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
• Applicants must commit to using the equipment for which they receive a rebate primarily within Rhode Island for commercial purposes.
• Applicants must provide all required documentation found in the “Required Documents” section above, including sales receipts, proof of Rhode Island residency, proof of age, and any additional documentation requested by the program administrators.

Equipment Requirements: 

• Handheld and backpack leaf blowers are eligible.
• Only electric, battery-powered leaf blowers are eligible.
• Additional batteries purchased for the intended use of powering the leaf blower are eligible to count towards total costs.
  • Limit of 2 batteries per leaf blower.
• Leaf blowers must be purchased new from a physical retail store located in RI, either online or in-person. Leaf blowers purchased from private sellers are not eligible.
  • Online purchases shall only be considered valid if they are bought directly from the website of a retail store located physically in RI. 
• Purchase date must be on or after program launch date, November 21, 2024. Rebates are not retroactive to past purchases.

Additional Information:

• Rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, pending available funds.
  • This is a reimbursement program. Applicants must cover expenses upfront and provide proof of payment for reimbursement.
• Only purchases made on or after the program launch date of November 21, 2024, are eligible. The online application portal will close at 11:59 PM on June 30, 2025. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for a rebate—no exceptions.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to act promptly to secure funding, as this program operates on a limited budget and is expected to reach capacity quickly.
• OER will provide updates on available funding throughout the program period; however, OER is not responsible if applications cannot be processed before the program’s deadline of June 30, 2025, if funds are exhausted prior to that date. We strongly encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible to improve their chances of securing a rebate while funds remain available.
• Applicants are responsible for checking all leaf blower related emails and program website for status updates and requests for additional information or documents required to complete the application.
• Applicants independently select and purchase their equipment and assume all liability.
• Applicants will receive Best Practices and Battery Safety flyers with their rebate. 
• Applicants will receive follow-up surveys six (6) and twelve (12) months after receiving their rebate to share feedback on their experience with the new equipment.
• Residents, non-profit organizations, and government entities are not eligible for rebates under this program.
• Lawn mowers, string trimmers, and any other landscape equipment or accessories that are not leaf blowers are not eligible for rebates.
• Learn how to dispose gas-powered leaf blowers at https://atoz.rirrc.org/items/leaf-blowers.

The OER is not liable for any damages or costs associated with the purchase, maintenance, or use of the electric leaf blowers or related batteries. The OER reserves the right to modify or terminate this rebate program at any time. Funding is limited.