Mass. Announces Second Round Of Appliance Rebates

State officials are planning a second round of appliance rebates after would-be participants crashed a computer server then drained the program of all its funding in 2 1/2 hours, about $5.5 million in rebates.

Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles said Friday the state will also fund all of more than 12,700 rebate reservations placed on a waiting list Thursday.

Those on the wait list will be notified by e-mail or mail in about one week explaining how to claim their rebate.

Thursday's rebate program, designed to encourage consumers to trade in energy-sucking appliances for more miserly ones, was funded with federal stimulus dollars.

Funding for the summer rebate program will come from the auction of carbon allowances and existing state energy efficiency programs.