POINT PLEASANT — West Virginia plans to start its Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate program in May, 2010, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

It does not have an April 1 start date, as some state media outlets have recently reported.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the program will offer consumer mail-in rebates to help West Virginia residents replace older, inefficient appliances with Energy Star qualified appliances.

To qualify for rebates, consumers must purchase appliances from participating West Virginia retailers. Energy Star appliances eligible for rebates in West Virginia are clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and room air conditioners. The program’s goals include reducing pollution, lowering energy bills for many West Virginians and stimulating the state’s economy. Participating retailers are required to recycle all used appliances collected.

Locally, Mason Furniture, located at 1649 Second St. in the Town of Mason, has agreed to participate as well as Sears, located at the Huntington Mall in Barboursville.

For more information contact Greg Adolfson at the WVDEP at gregory.e.adolfson@wv.gov or 866-568-6649, ext. 1332.