UPDATED: The $300 million federal appliance rebate program,

Cash for Clunkers, is one way the government is trying to stimulate the economy and improve the environment. The program

; you can survey the differences

.

Oregon has $3.63 million grant and opened its program Dec. 15. But it has limited the rebates to low-income households replacing heaters. Washington targets on refrigerators and washers. In Idaho, nearly everything qualifies. It's Only Money had to check Idaho's list twice to make sure it didn't include potato slicers.

First, in Oregon, only new gas furnaces and air-source heat pumps qualify for the rebates. But they are handsome -- a rebate of 70 percent of the purchase price, up to $2,000. Community action agencies will cover the rest of the cost.

Second, the "instant rebate" is available to households earning

or less. That’s $21,093 for a single person and $40,563 for a family of four.

Renters are eligible as well.

Why the limits? Oregon

of $60 to $180 for high-efficiency dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and washers. Has for some time. Last year, it doled out about $50,000 in tax credits for high-efficient appliances, up about $10,000 from 2008, state officials said. UPDATE: Energy Trust of Oregon also offers most utility customers

for new, efficient appliances. The nonprofit also pays to pick up your old freezer and fridge.

"The state feels it basically has a pretty long-term vibrant residential energy tax credit program," said Oregon Energy Department spokeswoman Diana Enright said. "This gave us an opportunity to reach some people we normally don’t reach."

is developing

.

Those who do qualify can apply through

. These agencies have had money to repair inefficient furnaces in low-income households, but not replace them, state officials say. "They’ve been trying to band-aid the heating system together," said Ann Grim, the department's stimulus fund analyst. So this is a real blessing to them." The state estimates it could replace 1,800 heaters, create 40 jobs and save 393,000 pounds of carbon-dioxide pollution each year.

Portland area CAAs include the Multnomah County Office of Community & School Parnterships (503-988-6295), the Clackamas County Social Services Division in Oregon City (503-650-5640) and Community Action of Washington County in Hillsboro (503-615-0771) and Beaverton (503-615-0772).

is different. It's making its $6.3 million available to

anyone

, regardless of income, who buys Energy Star refrigerators and clothes washers. The rebate programs are tentatively scheduled to begin in April 2010, and

rebates for purchases made before the program starts will not be honored

. So, keep an eye on

for the actual start date and application information.

The $75 refrigerator rebates is currently scheduled to end in May 2010; the $100 clothes washer program will continue through December 2011, or until funds are depleted. But the kind of appliances eligible and the duration of the rebate period could change depending on demand, said program manager Rebecca Stillings.

Sorry, Washingtonians. You can’t cross the Columbia and buy your appliance in Oregon to escape sales tax. You must buy it from a Washington store.

And, you must replace an appliance to qualify. "It’s not for a landlord to retrofit his whole building," Stillings said. "It’s not for new construction."

Stillings said state officials chose refrigerators and washers because retailers and utilities said they would have the greatest impact on water and electrical use (and wastewater discharge).

Live elsewhere? Look up your state's program

.