Ventura biofuel company Biodico received a $1.2 million grant from the California Energy Commission for its solar, wind and bioenergy project, “Zero Net Energy Farms.”

Through the project, Biodico plans to generate enough electricity to power a farm onsite and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The grant was awarded through the CEC’s Electric Program Investment Charge Challenge and Biodico will begin putting it to use in June.

“Our goal is to establish a template for ranches, farms and other agricultural interests throughout California’s Central Valley and beyond,” Russ Teall, Biodico president and founder, said in a news release. “This project comes at a particularly important time as California’s agricultural community searches for more efficient ways to produce, process and store more than 400 food, fiber, flora and fuel crops, not to mention convert biomass into electricity, as biomass power plants continue to close.”

Energy security would also benefit a state suffering from ongoing drought, Teall said, since less water would be necessary to produce the electricity.

Development and implementation of new technologies will also create jobs and stimulate local economies, said JJ Rothgery, chairman of the board at the company.

“There is a great need today for establishing a rational business case for tomorrow’s energy efficient farm,” Rothgery said. “A Zero Net Energy Farm will help diversify power production and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and water to generate electricity.”

• Contact Marissa Nall at mnall@pacbiztimes.com.