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California Air Resources Board Members,
My name is Francisco Lesaca. My wife and I own and operate Lesaca
Landscape Company, Inc. in Bakersfield, CA. We have 12 full time
employees, which we are proud to say have been with us on average
for 15 years. Our landscape services include design, build and
maintenance. My father and mother started the business in 1974. We
hope to continue what they started.
I have a deep concern for the new proposed amendments to the small
off-road engine regulations and the time in which you want to
implement them. I understand the need to reduce our carbon
footprint. And being a lifelong resident of the central valley, I
understand how important our air quality is to us. But to do a
complete ban by 2024 of all gas engines under 25 hp will create a
financial hardship for me and many small businesses owners. Every
piece of small equipment I have is under 25 hp. Which include
mowers, blowers, chainsaws, edgers, string trimmers, plate
compactors, aerators, pressure washers, power brooms, augers and
concrete saws. We take care of our equipment so it will last us a
long time. We try to 3-10 years life out of every piece of
equipment. And we only buy professional equipment that we know is
dependable and can handle the riggers of our work. It's taken us
years to find the right equipment that meets our standards. Now you
are asking us to do the same thing with electric equipment in less
than 3 years. This is a hard pill to swallow. Its not just the new
equipment we will need to purchase. But the cost of setting up our
shop, trucks and trailers with charging stations and even maybe
solar panels. I don't know where to begin!!!
I hope you can reconsider this timeline of 3 years and extend it to
10+ years. By then, maybe the battery technology will be more
advanced. Also, with more time the cost of the equipment may be
more comparable to our current gas-powered equipment. If anything,
the added time will help us phase out our old gas power equipment
and purchase the new battery equipment.

Best Regards,
Javier Lesaca
Lesaca Landscape Company
661-836-0229
www.LesacaLandscape.com
CSLB LIC# 645961
Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor #52771
ISA Certified Arborist WE-12862A
CA DPR QAL LIC# - 131619