Through Senate Bill 23-092, the Colorado state legislature appropriated $500,000 to distribute as agrivoltaics grants in Fiscal Year 2023-24 to support Colorado producers and help Colorado’s clean energy transition. These grants should “conduct a new or ongoing demonstration or research project as a means to study the potential, benefits, and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics in the state."
After a public application period, CDA created a Steering Committee that helped design grant guidelines and advise the department on the program.
A second round of $500,000 of funding has been approved for Fiscal Year 2024-25 through the Long Appropriations Bill. Applications will be accepted from May 10th, 2024 to July 21st.
This program is separate from CDA’s existing Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ACRE3) Program.
Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Grant
The application period for Fiscal Year 2024-25 opens on May 10th, 2024.
This grant encourages innovative projects, including demonstrations of agrivoltaics, research projects, and outreach campaigns to further agrivoltaics and Colorado’s agricultural economy.
Eligible project types include:
- Construction of agrivoltaics systems and agrivoltaics demonstration projects
- Expansion of existing demonstration projects of agrivoltaic systems
- Research projects that focus on understanding the benefits, incremental costs, and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics systems
- Outreach and communication projects focused on agrivoltaics benefits and/or obstacles
Applications are due July 21st, 2024.
For more information, please review Grant Guidelines and the Grant Application Instructions.
We hosted two informational webinars that covered the same material. Please see the recordings below if you were unable to attend.
Agrivoltaic Steering Committee
Byron Kominek, Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center / Jack's Solar Garden
Ellen Kutzer, Colorado Solar and Storage Association
Jordan Macknick, National Renewable Energy Association
Duncan Gilchrist, The Nature Conservancy
Meg Caley, Sprout City Farms
Bob Wagner, Farmer, Wagner Charolais and Gene Check, Inc.
Nathan Troudt, Farmer
Alan Knapp, Colorado State University
Tyler Garrett, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
John Caven, Farmer
Zach Riley, Colorado Livestock Association
Mark Uchanski, Colorado State University
Darrell Littlefield, L7 Ranch LLC
State Staff
Kristen Boysen, Lead
Sam Anderson, Advisor
Cindy Lair, Advisor