Economic Feasibility of Bio-Butanol on Marginal Agricultural Lands in Western Colorado

As is the case with most rural agricultural communities, western Colorado is dependent on fossil fuels transported from distant sources. This results in vulnerability to fuel supply disruptions and price shocks (Ederington et al., 2011; Yu, Wang, and Lai, 2008). A predictable and locally derived fuel source may provide stability to the agricultural production supply chain as well as to local commerce (Tareen, Wetzstein, and Duffield , 2000; Western Organization of Research Counsels, 2009). This research project evaluates the economic feasibility of bio-butanol as a locally grown biofuel in western Colorado as a means to encourage farm-level and regional energy sovereignty.