Four projects looking into the development of biodiesel in Colorado have been awarded grants under the Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy (ACRE) programme.

The programme has awarded 15 grants totalling $600,000 (€444,670) in a bid to encourage projects that add value to agricultural products.

As Tom Lipetzky, CFO at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, explains: ‘ACRE is a statewide effort to promote energy-related projects beneficial to Colorado’s agriculture industry. The grants awarded by this project are an important step toward helping our agriculture industry o be a leading participant in the energy economy.’

$24,000 has been awarded to Boulder County that will see it develop a biodiesel supply chain in the area, while Yuma Conservation District received a $20,870 grant to evaluate the viability of a biodiesel plant located in the northeastern region of Colorado.

Morgan County-based RMSE will now support the development of a vertically integrated biodiesel facility after receiving a £100,000 grant, and $49,186 has been awarded to SE Colorado RC&D, located in Otero County Biodiesel, for engine performance testing, fuels evaluation and enterprise budgeting for diesel biofuels.