Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club Honors Del. Scott Surovell

The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club recently honored Del. Scott Surovell with the Solar Champion Award to recognize his work on energy policy. This was the first time the chapter voted to recognize members of the General Assembly with awards for their work in the legislature. According to a Sierra Club news release Monday, the Chapter’s Legislative Committee voted unanimously to award Surovell.

“Virginia has lagged behind other states in encouraging renewable energy. By adding solar thermal energy to Virginia's renewable energy portfolio, we are taking a small step to encourage people to invest in this technology," said Surovell when he accepted the award. "The Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter has been a vigilant voice for changing Virginia's renewable energy policy and I look forward to continuing to work with them towards effecting larger efforts to reduce Virginia's carbon footprint.”

Surovell led a bill that will add solar thermal energy to the definition of renewable energy in the Code of Virginia. This will provide an incentive for investment in solar thermal under the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

“Delegate Surovell has established a strong record in the House of Delegates promoting renewable and solar energy including HB 1917 to allow a utility to claim renewable thermal energy from within the state and HB 1916 to create a tax credit for solar energy systems," said Pat Soriano, political chair of the Sierra Club Mount Vernon Group. "We are very pleased to honor Delegate Surovell with the Solar Champion Award, and to also recognize his leadership with Senator Ebbin to repeal the hybrid car tax."