The U.S. Department of Energy's $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program tipped off yesterday in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington as well as the Northern Mariana Islands.

If you're in the market for new appliances covered by your state's program, you might want to shop sooner than later since the rebates seem to be a hit with consumers.

• In Iowa, the $2.8 million rebate program opened and closed yesterday. "Thank you for your interest in the Iowa Appliance Rebate Program. Unfortunately, all rebate funds have been reserved and applications are no longer being accepted" reads a note today on the Iowa Office of Energy Independence Web site.

• In Minnesota, the state's $5 million Trade-in and Save Appliance Program was overwhelmed by consumers yesterday, according to this report in The Free Press.

• In Nebraska, Neil Moseman, director of the Nebraska Energy Office, told the Omaha World-Herald that the state's $1.71 million in rebates for heat pumps, central air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, gas furnaces, oil furnaces, and refrigerators next month, will be gone in less than 30 days.