After the success of appliance rebate programs in other states, Massachusetts is giving the cash for clunkers idea a go. The state will launch its own rebate program on Earth day, April 22, in a bid to get consumers to trade in energy draining appliances for more efficient models. Similar programs in Illinois and Florida were so popular, consumers drained the allotted budgets for the rebates in 11 hours in Illinois and in Florida’s case, about two days.

Masschusetts has $6.6 million in federal stimulus funds to play with. Rebate seekers can check out a list of refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and freezers on an official Web site for the program. Part of the deal stipulates that consumers must submit a copy of a delivery document howing that their old model was hauled away and the new one was installed in order to receive their rebate check.

The state Department of Energy Resources estimates that 27,000 older appliances will be taken out of service through the program, says the Boston Herald, ultimately saving 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power 340 households for a year.

Mass. to launch appliance rebate program this week [Boston Herald]

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