From left: Rick Keller, Terry Savela, Ivy Main, Pat Soriano, Del. Alfonso Lopez, Jenny Abel, Dean Amel and Samantha Ahdoot. Photo Contributed
Arlington — For the first time, the Virginia Chapter Sierra Club voted to recognize members of the General Assembly with awards lauding their work in the legislature. The chapter’s legislative committee voted unanimously to honor state Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31) and Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-49) with the Energy Freedom Award to recognize their work on energy policy.
Favola, who represents parts of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties, passed a bill requiring electric utilities including Dominion Virginia Power to assess the effects of their pricing model on energy conservation, energy efficiency and equity. If utilities find that current price structures place an undue burden on small energy users, a different rate structure can be considered that will encourage a smaller carbon footprint.
Lopez introduced a bill that, if successful, would have helped wind and solar compete against price-volatile natural gas by requiring utilities and the State Corporation Commission to consider the long-term price stability of fuels used in electric power generation. Lopez also introduced legislation to reform the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Such an overhaul would have changed the face of energy generation in the Commonwealth.