In a ceremony held on September 1, a Fairfax County legislator was recognized by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters for his significant contributions to clean energy legislation and efforts to manage the impact of data centers.
Among the six members of the General Assembly honored by the organization was Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6), representing Great Falls and McLean, acknowledged for his environmental advocacy.
Blair St. Ledger-Olson, director of advocacy and campaigns for the League of Conservation Voters, noted Sullivan’s consistent support for environmental issues, stating, “He’s done the work.”
During the event, Sullivan admitted some environmental goals, particularly concerning data center regulations, remained unachieved this year. His proposal for a study on managing energy consumption by high-demand customers was deferred to the 2027 session, but he emphasized his ongoing commitment, saying, “The bill is not dead yet — it’s still of the conversation.”
Del. Alfonso Lopez, an Arlington Democrat, was also honored for his work on water quality improvements. Alongside him, Sen. Richard Stuart, a Republican from Westmoreland County, received recognition for advocating regulations requiring PFAS testing on biosolids used in agriculture.
PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are persistent synthetic chemicals found in the bloodstream of over 97% of the global population. Lopez and Stuart’s bipartisan legislation has been praised as “a bipartisan win for farmers, clean water and the health of farm communities,” according to the League of Conservation Voters.
Expressing gratitude, Lopez remarked, “I’m very touched,” during the ceremony at Northside Social in Clarendon, appreciating the League’s ongoing advocacy. Both Sullivan and Lopez have been praised as “vital partners in advancing environmental issues,” by Jordan Seurattan, the League’s Northern Virginia field manager.
St. Ledger-Olson further commended the legislators for their openness to environmental advocacy concerns. “I’m so truly lucky to work with both these individuals,” she said, noting their offices as welcoming and supportive spaces.
Sullivan reciprocated the appreciation, recognizing the League as a crucial collaborator in legislative efforts. “We spend a lot of time working with you … trying to get it right,” he acknowledged.
Other honorees for their work during the 2026 session included Del. Betsy Carr, Sen. Mamie Locke, and Sen. Russet Perry, all Democrats from various Virginia districts.
At the event, the League of Conservation Voters released its 2026 legislative scorecard, which for the first time, showed no legislator achieving a perfect score. Those with near-perfect records saw their scores decrease due to votes supporting a state budget that the League criticized for insufficiently addressing data center impacts. The 2026-2028 budget, after a prolonged impasse, was finally adopted and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
Sullivan and Lopez both achieved a ranking of 96% in the 2026 evaluations.
Original Story at www.ffxnow.com