Shafter AB 617 Community

Agency:	San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
Posted Date:	Feb 11, 2026
Due Date:	Mar 13, 2026
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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REQUEST FOR

PROPOSALS

Shafter Community Emissions Reduction

Program: Vegetative Barriers

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control

District is seeking proposals from entities to

implement Vegetative Barriers projects in the

Shafter AB 617 Community.

Shafter Community Emissions Reduction Program

RFP for Vegetative Barriers

Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2

Background ..................................................................................................................... 2

Qualitative Benefits ......................................................................................................... 3

Community Support for Vegetative Barriers .................................................................... 3

Schedule ......................................................................................................................... 4

Funding Available............................................................................................................ 4

Contract Period ............................................................................................................... 4

Applicant Eligibility........................................................................................................... 5

Project Eligibility .............................................................................................................. 5

Project Evaluation and Scoring Criteria........................................................................... 6

Location........................................................................................................................... 8

Emission Reductions....................................................................................................... 9

Proposal Requirements and Process .............................................................................. 9

Proposal Submittal ........................................................................................................ 10

Administration ............................................................................................................... 11

Insurance ...................................................................................................................... 12

Reporting Requirements ............................................................................................... 13

Contact Person ............................................................................................................. 13

Attachments

Exhibit A Vegetative Barriers Application

Exhibit B Vegetative Barrier Tools – User Guides

Exhibit C USEPA-Recommendations for Constructing Roadside Vegetation Barriers

to Improve Near-Road Air Quality

Exhibit D Helpful Resources

Shafter Community Emissions Reduction Program

RFP for Vegetative Barriers

Request for Proposals

Shafter Community Emissions Reduction Program:

Vegetative Barriers

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) is soliciting proposals from

entities (applicants) to implement Vegetative Barrier projects in the Shafter AB 617

Community boundaries. This Request for Proposal (RFP) will provide a total grant

amount of up to $550,909 to the selected applicant(s) that can demonstrate the ability to

efficiently and effectively implement vegetative barriers projects by working with the

community to reduce emissions and to provide several key co-benefits. The Vegetative

Barriers Emissions Reduction Program is a Community Identified Project that has been

included and prioritized in the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and District-

adopted Community Emission Reduction Program (CERP).

Introduction

Assembly Bill 617 (AB 617) requires CARB and air districts to develop and implement

additional emissions reporting, monitoring, reduction plans and emission reduction

measures in an effort to reduce air pollution exposure in disadvantaged communities.

Shafter is one of the San Joaquin Valley (Valley) communities selected by CARB for

investment of additional resources under AB 617.

AB 617 provides mechanisms and resources to invest substantial funding in the

community through voluntary incentive funding measures. Most importantly, these

measures are guided by the shared experience and knowledge of local community

members, through their input and involvement on Steering Committees for each AB 617-

selected community.

Background

The Vegetative Barriers Emission Reduction Program is a part of California Climate

Investments (CCI), a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to

work reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, strengthening the economy, and

improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Vegetative Barriers projects use natural solutions to mitigate air quality impacts and

improve public health. Projects may include planting trees or vegetative barriers in the

community in order to reduce exposure to emissions and provide several key co-benefits.

Vegetative barriers, also known as windbreaks, are composed of one or more rows of

trees or shrubs that may be planted in specific areas of concern in order to improve air

quality in the immediate area by intercepting airborne particles, dust, chemicals, and

odors. Pollutants directly emitted from cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles are found

Shafter Community Emissions Reduction Program

RFP for Vegetative Barriers

in higher concentrations near major roads. In addition, stationary sources such as

industrial facilities, factories, and agricultural operations can also contribute air pollutants

to their surrounding areas. While various emission control techniques and programs exist

to reduce these pollutants from mobile and stationary sources, vegetative barriers have

been shown to be an additional measure to potentially reduce a population’s exposure to

air pollution through the interception of airborne particles and the uptake of gaseous

pollutants. Examples of vegetative barriers include trees, bushes, shrubs, or a mix of

these.

Generally, a higher and thicker vegetative barrier with full coverage will result in greater

reductions in downwind pollutant concentrations. In addition to air quality benefits,

vegetative barriers can improve aesthetics, increase property values, reduce heat, control

surface water runoff, and reduce noise pollution. Factors to be considered when

designing Vegetative Barriers include, but are not limited to, vegetation height, thickness,

porosity, seasonal effects, vegetation air emissions (e.g. biogenic VOCs), pollution and

stress resistance. Additional considerations include: soil characteristics, availability of

water, control of water runoff, maintenance of the vegetative barrier, use of native and

non-invasive species, and roadway safety. A full list of design considerations can be

found in Exhibit C - EPA’s Recommendations for Constructing Roadside Vegetation

Barriers to Improve Near-Road Air Quality, it is also available at

https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=321772&

simpleSearch=1&searchAll=Recommendations+for+constructing+roadside+vegetation+

barriers+to+improve+near+road+air+quality

Qualitative Benefits

Vegetative Barriers can shade buildings and reduce energy consumption by lessening

the load on air conditioning systems. When planting and maintaining native and/or

drought-resistant vegetation using water efficient irrigation methods, vegetative barriers

can reduce water usage. In addition, planting more trees in certain areas, such as near

freeways, may also help reduce noise pollution. The Steering Committee has suggested

installing vegetative barriers on the perimeters of agricultural operations to reduce dust

and, between local rail routes and residential areas.

Community Support for Vegetative Barriers

Community engagement continues to be an important part of the CERP development.

District staff have routinely met with the respective Community Steering Committee (CSC)

subcommittees. Through ongoing discussions with the Shafter CSC subcommittee for

vegetative barriers and urban greening measures, the subcommittee had expressed

strong interest in providing funding to support the Vegetative Barriers measure (VB.1).

The Vegetative Barriers measure has been discussed at CSC meetings in addition to the

outreach activities conducted to inform residents of the program and requirements for

participation. Following the outreach efforts, this measure received support from the

Shafter CSC and was included in the adopted CERP. This RFP was developed and

modeled after existing plans and resources for similar projects within the state of

California and includes feedback received from the CSC to create a program that

addresses the unique needs of the community.

Shafter Community Emissions Reduction Program

RFP for Vegetative Barriers

Schedule

Date

Event

February 11, 2026

Release Request for Proposal

March 13, 2026 (4:00 PM)

Proposal submission deadline

Funding Available

The total funding available currently for the Vegetative Barriers Emission Reduction

Program is $550,909 for projects within the Shafter AB 617 Community.

The applicant must be in compliance with applicable State and/or federal conflict of

interest laws. To be eligible to receive incentive funding, the applicant must agree to

disclose additional funding sources that include, but are not limited to, federal, state, and

third-party private sources as follows:

1. Indicate if their organization has applied for or received funding from any other

sources for this project.

2. Indicate if you intend to apply for additional funding from other sources in the future

for this project.

3. Disclose the value of any current financial incentive that directly reduces the

project cost including tax credits or deductions or other public financial assistance.

For any additional funding that the applicant will receive or has already received

for this project, the applicant will submit copies of letter(s) of financial

commitment(s), agreement(s), or grant award letter(s). Information provided may be

shared as required by federal, state, and local laws. Any owner, designee, or other third

party who is found to have submitted multiple applications or signed multiple contracts for

this project without proper disclosure may be disqualified from funding for that project

from all sources within the control of the District. Applying for or receiving funding from

other sources for this project does not necessarily preclude you from this RFP.

Projects funded through existing initiatives within the community may be leveraged to

expand existing projects in the Shafter AB 617 community. Applicants may use the grant

awarded to them as leverage to raise matching funds for Vegetative Barriers projects.

Match funding is not required for this program.

Contract Period

Applicants selected through this RFP are required to commit to their projects for a

minimum of 10 years. The project implementation phase shall be completed within the

first three (3) years of the contract execution date. During the contract period, Applicants

must maintain the project, comply with other requirements described in this RFP, and

make the project available for inspection if requested by District and/or CARB staff.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Shafter AB 617 Community

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