Energy

Program Update: With the General Assembly’s recent reauthorization of the ACRE program for the next five years, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has reviewed the results of the last six years of implementation, begun exploring options for future implementation, and discussed the program’s future with internal and external partners. This document presents an outline of the likely future direction of the ACRE program for the next several years. While the Department remains open to investing in a broad array of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and processes, the ACRE program will narrow the focus of the bulk of its resources to just a few promising areas. After reviewing the document, I invite you to contribute any thoughts or suggestions you may have regarding the implementation of the program.

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 Colorado Department 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:

• biofuels development,
• biomass conversion,
• wind and solar energy
• energy effiency improvements

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.

Success Metrics and Recommendations for the Future

We are currently not accepting applications. If you would like to automatically receive notifications you may sign up for "Inside Ag" our e-newsletter which includes monthly updates on all of Colorado's agricultural news.
 

Related Links

Delta Wind Energy
Provides a wind energy installation guide for agricultural and rural applicatoins. There is a brochure and a video for your reference.

Colorado Energy Office
This is a great resource to get started using renewable energy and energy efficiency in Colorado.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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.

CSU Center for Agricultural Energy (CAE)
The CAE empowers Colorado's agricultural producers to make environmentally and financially sound energy decisions by conducting agricultural energy audits, research, and community outreach.