A Fairfax County legislator on Sept. 1 was honored by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters for his work on clean energy legislation and addressing the impacts of data centers.
Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6) was one of six General Assembly members awarded by the group for their legislative leadership during the 2026 session.
Sullivan, who represents Great Falls and McLean in the House of Delegates, “has been no stranger” to supporting issues promoted by environmental advocates, said Blair St. Ledger-Olson, director of advocacy and campaigns for the League of Conservation Voters.
“He’s done the work,” she said.
At the ceremony, Sullivan acknowledged that advocates didn’t get everything they wanted this year when it came to data center regulations. His call for a study and recommendations on how to handle energy use by high-demand customers was deferred for consideration in the 2027 session, but he remains committed to the proposal.
“The bill is not dead yet — it’s still of the conversation,” he said. “I continue to keep pushing it and pushing it and pushing it.”
Retaining the status quo “is just not an option,” he said.
Also honored at the Sept. 1 ceremony was Del. Alfonso Lopez, an Arlington Democrat, for his leadership on water quality improvements during the 2026 General Assembly session.
Lopez (D-3) was honored alongside Sen. Richard Stuart, a Westmoreland County Republican, for championing legislation to require testing for PFAS on biosolids applied to farmland.
PFAS, short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic “forever” chemicals that don’t break down in the environment. As a result, trace amounts have accumulated in the bloodstream of more than 97% of people worldwide.
Lopez chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, while Stuart serves on the companion committee in the Senate. Their joint work was “a bipartisan win for farmers, clean water and the health of farm communities,” the League of Conservation Voters said when announcing the award.
“I’m very touched,” Lopez said during the award ceremony, held at Northside Social in Clarendon. “I appreciate the work being done by this organization, your continued advocacy.”
Sullivan and Lopez have been “vital partners in advancing environmental issues,” said Jordan Seurattan, the League of Conservation Voters’ Northern Virginia field manager.
St. Ledger-Olson said both legislators are always receptive to issues raised by those in the arena of environmental advocacy.
“I’m so truly lucky to work with both these individuals,” she said. “Their offices are safe spaces for me.”
Sullivan returned the favor, calling the League of Conservation Voters a valued partner in crafting legislative efforts.
“We spend a lot of time working with you … trying to get it right,” he said.
Other state lawmakers honored by the organization for their work in the 2026 session includes:
- Del. Betsy Carr, a Richmond Democrat
- Sen. Mamie Locke, a Hampton Democrat
- Sen. Russet Perry, a Loudoun County Democrat
At the Sept. 1 event, the League of Conservation Voters released its 2026 legislative scorecard, based on a series of bills highlighted by the organization.
For the first time since its beginnings in 2000, no legislator who served for the entire session scored 100%.
Those with otherwise perfect voting records saw their scores reduced for voting in support of a state budget that the League of Conservation Voters felt didn’t adequately address the impact of data centers. The 2026-2028 budget was adopted by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in late June, just before the end of the fiscal year, after an extended stalemate over whether to extend a tax break for data center developers.
Sullivan and Lopez were among those scoring 96% in the 2026 rankings.
