The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) is off to an “electric” start in 2026, kicking off the new year with an AGZA Town Hall–style workshop for the City of Burbank. Presenters included Michael Cacciotti, Governing Board Chair of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD); Rodney Hupalo with Burbank Water and Power; and Dan Mabe, Founder of AGZA.
South Coast AQMD Board Chair presenting the Air District’s mission and programs to a packed house.Chair Cacciotti’s presentation highlighted the health and air-quality challenges impacting Southern California’s South Coast Basin, which spans four counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange. He also reviewed available incentives for residents and commercial operators to replace gas-powered lawn and garden equipment with zero-emission, battery-electric alternatives. Residential incentives for trading in a gas lawn mower typically range from $150 to $400, depending on purchase price. Commercial trade-ins may qualify for hundreds—and in some cases thousands—of dollars in incentives depending on equipment type, batteries, and charging systems.
Rodney Hupalo briefly educated participants—many of whom were industry operators—on the City of Burbank’s newly formed gas leaf blower ordinance, which is scheduled to take effect in one year.
AGZA Founder Dan Mabe, holding a TOWA PDM, provided case studies on charging infrastructure needs and challenges.AGZA’s presentation addressed the real-world operational impacts of gas versus electric equipment, including worker health, noise, exhaust and evaporative emissions, and the solvents and chemicals often used to maintain gas fleets. The workshop also covered how to implement battery-electric operations, including charging infrastructure planning, battery banks, tool testing, and cost-benefit analysis.
Electric for all and all for electric! AGZA AFTC Field Tested companies are helping AGZA and communities facilitate meaningful change.
AGZA AFTC manufacturers — including STIHL, Husqvarna, Makita, Greenworks, Kress, TOWA, and OSO—supported the event by showcasing their AGZA Field Tested Certified commercial battery-electric platforms for hands-on demonstrations and Q&A. Equipment on display included handheld and backpack blowers, string trimmers, walk-behind and riding mowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, stick edgers, and robotic mowers.
Principal CEO at Gardenland Power Equipment & Co-Founder and CEO of Towa Industries Inc.
Roger Phelps joined STIHL Inc. in 2001 and is currently the Corporate Communications Manager. In that position he is responsible for creating and telling the STIHL story through integrated event marketing, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and digital and social media with the goal of increasing the visibility of and affinity for the STIHL brand and over 10,000 STIHL dealers. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served 10 years in the U.S. Navy attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He has serves on the National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation Board of Directors, the National Association of State Park Directors Leadership School Board of Regents, and the Professional Grounds Management Society Board of Directors.
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