Overview
The ACRE3 (Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) program promotes the development and implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for Colorado’s agricultural producers and processors under the direction of the Colorado Agricultural Value-Added Development Board.
Mission
As Colorado’s principal source of state-level support for agricultural energy management, ACRE3 program provides financial and technical assistance and education to help agricultural producers and processors cut energy costs, develop their own energy resources, and create markets for agriculturally derived energy and fuels.
Vision
Energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies are broadly utilized as effective strategies to make Colorado’s agricultural businesses more economically competitive and sustainable.
Eligibility
Both the applicant and the project must be eligible to be considered for ACRE3 funding. Use the checklists below to determine if you and your project would be a good fit:
Applicant Eligibility
Primary occupation is as an agricultural producer in the state of Colorado
Annual energy costs around $5,000 for stationary equipment (not including fuel costs for vehicles and mobile equipment)
Project Eligibility
Take place within the state of Colorado
Serve on-farm energy loads (residential applications are not eligible)
Good economic performance (measured by Internal Rate of Return, Payback Period, Net Present Value, etc)
Please email rosie.skovron@state.co.us if this sounds like you and your project.
How to Apply
Timeline:
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You should expect 6-12 months of assessment and planning (technical report, engineering, and permitting) and 12-24 months for implementation (financing and construction).
Steps:
- Fill out Pre-Application: this must be approved to get a technical report (a feasibility study or energy audit). Upon completion of this form, a member of the CDA energy team will reach out to schedule an introductory phone call.
- Obtain a Technical Report: this report will serve as your Application for Funding
- Request Review of Technical Report: this review meeting is between you and the CDA Energy staff and will discuss the approval of your project
- Funding Approval: CDA will issue a grant contract. Grant funding is provided on a reimbursement basis.
- Implementation (Financing and Construction)
Project Initiatives
The ACRE3 program welcomes applications for all clean energy technologies. It does not prioritize one technology over another.