How has the issue affected big-ticket equipment, such as mowers and utility vehicles?
This is where we are making some of our most significant changes. We have used electric carts for years in addition to some small pickups, along with our larger trucks. We now are investigating and planning on purchasing some of the newer, heavier-duty electric vehicles with the solar option to replace our small and some mid-size trucks. As electric carts need replacing, we will purchase new carts with roof-top solar panels. In Arizona, with all of our sun, solar equipment is a very viable option. We have trialed and are in the process of trialing rider mowers powered by propane. The governor wrote an executive order last year outlawing all gasoline-powered landscape maintenance equipment on state-owned property. It was realized that the manufacturing industry was not quite there with practical electric-, solar-, or propane-run small equipment suitable for commercial use, so the order was modified. We are still allowed to purchase gasoline-powered equipment if it is the only practical
