The Colorado Agricultural Value-Added Development Board administers the Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy (ACRE) Program which provides funding to promote energy-related projects beneficial to Colorado's agriculture industry.Specific authority for the ACRE Program is outlined in CRS 35-75-205(1.5) and provides for funds appropriated to the ColoradoDepartment of Agriculture (CDA) to be allocated to the Board "to promote agricultural energy-related projects."  Such projects must, in some way, benefit Colorado's agriculture industry and may include:

The Colorado Agricultural Value-Added Development Board derives its mission and authority from Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 35-75-201 thru 35-75-205 which provide for the making of grants, loans and loan guarantees, and equity investments to eligible persons for purposes of encouraging and promoting business projects that add value to agricultural products, as well as agricultural energy-related projects. As appropriate, tax credits may also be offered by the Board for new or ongoing agricultural projects that add value to Colorado agricultural products and aid the economy of Colorado communities.

Funding is currently available to the Board for allocation and award for the 2009/2010 fiscal year. Applications will be accepted through October 30, 2009. Click on "application process" in the left navigation above for details.

Remember, for up to date Department information you may sign up for "Inside Ag" our e-newsletter at www.colorado.gov/ag/insideag which includes monthly updates on all of Colorado's agricultural news or follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/ColoAgGrants) for grant updates as they happen.

updated 9/10/09

This is a great resource to get started using renewable energy in Colorado.

The US Department of Energy's (DOE) facility for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development and deployment.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

RMFU is a leader in the development of sustainable rural energy programs. As such they are another great resource for getting started in agricultural renewable energy.