Would create approximately 50 new jobs.
At a December 17 City Council meeting Tulare took the first step to approve a memorandum of understanding with Cyclum Renewables, LLC and Central Cal Truck Stops, LLC. The joint effort will redevelop Mefford Field along its Highway 99 frontage with a Renewable Energy Truck and Vehicle Charging Center on 26 acres of city-owned, non-Federal Aviation Administration property.
The City of Tulare is home to Mefford Field, a civilian airfield, which served as the site for a flight school to teach United States Army Air Corps flight cadets. “Rankin Aeronautical Academy,established in February 1941. Over the years, minor upgrades have been made to the airport.In 2022-2023 and continuing through 2026- Tulare will be making substantial improvements to rehabilitate taxiways, area paving, new lighting, construction of two helipads and access gate improvements. All improvements have the potential to increase lease and rental rates, thereby increasing revenue back to the airport for future investment.
In January 2024, staff was contacted by the representatives of Cyclum Renewable, LLC to express interest in establishing a collaborative relationship with the City of Tulare to redevelop Mefford Field with a renewable energy truck and vehicle charging travel center, Cyclum Renewables has laid out a network of green energy charging stations around the country that would be similar to the one they would build in Tulare.The North Carolina company plans to open 400 locations in the coming years, with construction beginning on the West Coast in 2025.
The Tulare area is already home to two national truck stops with a third large project to be a TA Travel Center being built just south of town.
A city staff report says this is a summary of the proposed memorandum of understanding.
The project will be the first of a new era in truck stop construction, and operations using transitional and renewable fuels including renewable diesel, ethanol-based gasoline, electric vehicle “EV” car and truck charging with direct green electricity, renewable compressed natural gas, and hydrogen. This renewable energy truck and vehicle charging travel oasis will help the City bring renewable energy charging resources to the City’s residents and visitors in a method in accord with the State of California renewable energy goals.
Estimate of Tax Revenue to City: Cyclum estimates the following as a simple breakdown of potential annual gross tax revenue to the City upon completion of the Project.
Approximately $2,600,000 from transactions including the following:
- Gasoline
- Traditional and Renewable Diesel
- Sales from C-Store, Food and Beverage
- Urgent care center
- Sleeping Pod/ Showers
- Scale
Approximately $215,000 from the following services: - Overnight Truck and RV Parking
- Service Center
- Truck Wash
- Misc Services
Lease Revenue at Market Rate of approximately $288,000 per year
Cyclum Renewables Truck Stops would create approximately 50 new jobs.
Cyclum Renewables Truck Stops would also generate additional revenue for all the purchased supplies and deliveries.
The City will perform an Environmental Assessment in the form of a Phase I study on the property delineated as the “Mefford Hangar” property. Should the results of the Phase I study require the need for a Phase II study, the City also agrees to perform the Phase II study. Should the Phase II study determine that remediation of the Mefford Hangar property is necessary, the City agrees to pay up to seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars which may include demolition of the Mefford Hangar, and Cyclum will pay for any remediation measures beyond.
The City agrees to provide assistance with grant, earmark requests, or other funding applications to pay for necessary off-site traffic improvements required by the project.
All tax revenue generated by the project will be reinvested into the future maintenance and revitalization of the City’s airport.