The Virginia League of Conservation Voters saluted Del. Alfonso Lopez this week for his legislative work on water quality this year.
Lopez (D-3) was honored alongside Sen. Richard Stuart, a Westmoreland County Republican, on Sept. 1 for joint efforts on legislation requiring testing for PFAS on biosolids applied to farmland.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl 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 in announcing the award.
As chair of the natural-resources committee, Lopez has been “fearless” in promoting environmental legislation, said Blair St. Ledger-Olson, director of advocacy and campaigns for the League of Conservation Voters.
“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.”
Honored at the same event was Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6), for his work on legislation to move Virginia toward 100% clean energy and to address the impacts of data centers statewide.
The two 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 were always receptive to issues raised by environmental advocates.
“I’m so truly lucky to work with both these individuals,” she said. “Their offices are safe spaces for me.”
Sullivan, of McLean, previously represented portions of Arlington in the House of Delegates, but lost those areas during the last round of legislative redistricting.
Other legislators honored by the organization for their work in the 2026 session include:
- Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond)
- Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton)
- Sen. Russet Perry (D-Loudoun County)
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 the compromise state budget, which the League of Conservation Voters felt did not adequately address data centers.
Lopez, Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) and Del. Adele McClure (D-2) each scored 96% in the ranking, as did Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40).
Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39), who succeeded Sen. Adam Ebbin midway through the session, scored 88% for her votes in the Senate but 100% for votes in the House before winning a special election to fill Ebbin’s seat.
