Mississippi will be offering a rebate program this spring designed to help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with Energy Star-qualified models.

The Mississippi Development Authority's Energy Division will partner with utility companies and retailers to promote the program statewide. The program is scheduled to begin in April and will continue until funds are depleted.

Eligible Energy Star products include:

• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers
• Room air conditioners
• Gas storage water heaters
• Gas tankless water heaters
• Electric heat pump water heaters
• Gas furnaces
• Central air conditioners
• Air source heat pumps
• Geothermal heat pumps

The program will not offer retroactive rebates for purchases made before the program launches.

Participating retailers, contractors and vendors will be required to properly recycle appliances during the promotional timeframe.

The program is one of 56 Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs, popularly known as Cash for Appliances, that are being set up in the United States and six U.S. territories with the help of federal stimulus money.

Mississippi will receive about $2.8 million of the nearly $300 million in stimulus funding available nationwide from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

For more information on the program, visit the Mississipp Development Authority Web site or call 601-359-6600.