QUARTERLY REPORT October 2022
Also as background, the much larger “Build Back Better” legislation that preceded the IRA in 2021 and failed to pass Congress included a credit program for consumer purchase of electric on-road vehicles and commercial agricultural and heavy equipment, but no included credits applicable to “mobile machinery” and as such member products. On Sept. 26 OPEI staff, members, and representatives of the National Association of Landscape Professionals and North American Equipment Dealers Association, met with retained counsel to begin outlining key questions for clarification with Treasury, including industry recommendations.
celerate the purchase of zero-emissions off-road equipment in California. Dealers must register and complete a CORE training quiz to participate. Manufacturers must apply on a product-by-product basis to participate. Additional program information can be found at www.californiacore.org . TWO NEW MEMBERS JOIN OPEI The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute is pleased to wel- come Engineered Exhaust Systems, a designer and provider of engine exhaust systems and other components, and Sunseeker North America, a manufacturer of battery/electric and gas-engine outdoor power equipment, as its newest members. As the advocacy voice of the outdoor power equipment industry, OPEI membership is open to manufacturers and suppliers of a broad range of equipment and technologies. Members and new companies expanding their product offerings in the market are encouraged to learn more about the benefits of membership at www.opei.org/join or by contacting Chuck Bowen, Vice President, Communications and Member Relations, at cbowen@opei.org.
CALIFORNIA SORE RULEMAKING APPROVED BY STATE’S OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW On Aug. 2, the CARB Executive Office “adopted” the proposed Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) amendments and submitted the rule to the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for approval. The OAL approved the rule Sept. 14 and was en- dorsed by the Secretary of State the same day, which means the rule is ready to be implemented. The 717-page Final Statement of Reason (FSOR) was includ- ed in the Aug. 2 documents. The FSOR summarizes the rule and offers the agency’s responses to comments received during the rulemaking process. OPEI will prepare comments in response to CARB’s waiver request when the EPA public comment periods opens. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that CARB request from the EPA Administrator a waiver of the CAA state rules (and receive approval of the waiver) before new emission rules can be “enforced.” CARB OPENS ZERO-EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT REBATE PROGRAM REGISTRATION The California Air Resources Board has opened registration for dealers and manufacturers to participate in its Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Program (CORE). The CORE program will provide $27 million in incentive funding to eligible professional landscape services in California to ac-
OPEI STAFF AND MEM- BERS MEET WITH CPSC OPEI staff and with a delegation of member representatives met with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Al- exander Hoehn-Saric Oct. 5 at the agency offices in Bethesda, Maryland.
This meeting was originally requested by OPEI in 2021 to provide the new chair with an introduction to the industry, issues of priority to OPEI members, and assurance of the in- dustry’s prioritization and commitment to the mutual pursuit of consumer safety. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including the importance of voluntary standards, potential safety concerns of “right to repair” policies, the agency’s secure handling of company information, cooperation on effective recalls, the timely sharing of data by the agency, and safety concerns related to counterfeit and some aftermarket parts. OPEI staff also extended an invitation for the chair to meet with the OPEI Board at its expected March meeting.
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