By ALISON SIDER

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The government’s latest weapons against the recession are refrigerators, washing machines and water heaters.

Arkansas has $2.74 million in the appliance rebate program it launched Monday, designed to encourage consumers to trade in old appliances for more energy- efficient models.

The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Energy through the 2009 stimulus bill, will provide mail-in rebates for consumers who replace their refrigerators, clothes washers and water heaters with products that qualify for ...