"Cash for Clunkers" a surprising green success story

One of the most effective efforts from President Barack Obama's stimulus plan has been the "cash for clunkers" program.

The program offers $4,500 for qualifying vehicles that are traded in for more fuel-efficient vehicles. The popular program launched last week ran out of cash in less than a week although it was scheduled to last until November.

The House approved an additional $2 billion for the program after learning it had run out of money. The Senate still has not responded, but the White House all deals made over this weekend are valid.

"If you were planning on going to buy a car this weekend, using this program, this program continues to run," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

ABC News

Dealers Welcome Clunker Traffic, Even if It's No Cure-All

New York Times - Yana Paskova, Malcolm Gay - ‎2 hours ago‎

Nick Clites, a manager at DCH Honda in Paramus, NJ, walks past several so-called clunker vehicles. By BILL VLASIC DETROIT - It had been a dismal July in dealer showrooms - as bad as every month so far this year.

Video: Government jump starts Clunkers program WIVB

New Cash Steered to Clunkers Wall Street Journal