Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, was awarded a Legislative Leadership Award by the environmental group on Monday at 91短视频.

The award, along with a book of nature photographs, was presented for Hanger’s work on Senate Bill 418, which “eradicate[d] a major tax barrier to solar energy,” according to the group’s announcement.

The bill extended tax exemptions to solar panels so that the equipment cannot be taxed by local governments as “machinery and tools.”

Solar energy equipment is now classified as “pollution control equipment” and exempt from local taxation. The bill was signed into law in March.

Republicans and environmental groups often butt heads over issues ranging from land conservation to funding for alternative sources of energy.

Hanger was honored on the balcony of 91短视频’s Campus Center building, overlooking the . The panels, installed in 2010, are operated by Staunton-based solar development company .

, founder of Secure Futures and professor of at 91短视频, said Monday night that solar power is the “fastest-growing industry in the United States.”

Smith said Hanger’s legislation will help support that growth.

“It’s important to align yourself with a very seasoned and very professional legislator … who can work on both sides of the aisle,” Smith said.

On receiving his award 鈥� made out of recycled glass 鈥� Hanger said human beings could be resistant to change, but need to be able to adapt.

Hanger noted the importance of coal to Virginia’s history, but said the state has survived similar changes in the past.

“There was life after tobacco,” he said, referring to a former top industry that has declined.

Several of the Sierra Club’s members thanked Hanger for his work and remarked on his “courage” in working with them.

The Sierra Club claims to be the “nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.”

During the 2012 election cycle, the Sierra Club political action committee contributed more than $456,000 to congressional candidates nationwide 鈥� 99 percent of which went to Democratic candidates, according to the campaign finance tracking website OpenSecrets.org.

The remaining 1 percent went to independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has described himself as a “democratic socialist.”

In 2013, the state chapter of the Sierra Club spent more than $468,000 in support of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s successful gubernatorial campaign, according to the , which tracks campaign funds for state elections.

Waving off concerns that some in his party might be upset with him working with the environmental group, Hanger said that the bill removes an impediment to business.

“I see it as leveling the playing field,” he said.

In addition to Hanger, eight other Legislative Leadership awards were given out this year by the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club: four to Republicans and four to Democrats, according to an April press release from the group.

Courtesy of the Daily News Record, July 21, 2014.

An open letter addressed to 鈥渙ur nation鈥檚 policy leaders鈥� and endorsed by the educators asks legislators to enact 鈥渞ational gun safety measures,鈥� including a ban on military-style semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

鈥淚 certainly do not assume that guns should not be available for appropriate purposes,鈥� Swartzendruber said Wednesday. 鈥淲hat I do think deserves a lot more attention is the availability of guns that have no other purpose other than to harm individuals.鈥�

The letter also opposes any legislation that would allow guns on campuses or in schools, asks for an end to the so-called gun show loophole, which allows people to purchase guns without a background check, and asks for safety measures for all guns, such as safety locks and access-prevention laws.

鈥淚 agree with the basic premise of the letter,鈥� Swartzendruber said. 鈥淭his is an important time for the nation to have conversations about how we respond to acts of violence and how we can work together to decrease violence in our society.鈥�

The issue of guns and schools has become a major topic of conversation in the weeks following the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The shooting at the school claimed the lives of 27 people, including 20 children and the gunman.

One of the most contentious conversations that began following the incident was the possibility of training and arming teachers to prevent similar tragedies.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell responded to the shooting with an executive order creating a school and campus safety task force as well as a separate one for mental health.

Local school divisions responded similarly. Evaluations of safety procedures are ongoing at Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County schools.

In addition to agreeing with the letter鈥檚 overall message, Swartzendruber said he appreciated that it acknowledges the complexity of the issue. While the letter advocates gun-safety legislation, it says that identifying and treating mental health issues is a key to preventing incidents similar to the Newtown shooting.

鈥淚 wanted to make sure, as the letter does, to say this is a complicated set of questions and the responses will be complicated,鈥� Swartzendruber said. 鈥淭he call for more attention to mental health issues I think is absolutely critical. We do have mental health needs and we need to find better ways for identifying and providing treatment for those who do need those kinds of support systems.鈥�

Lawmakers also cite the issue鈥檚 complexity when talking about bans or a narrowing of gun ownership rights.

Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, and Del. Tony Wilt, R-Broadway, both said they would have to formulate opinions about limiting the number of bullets in a magazine or the use of assault weapons based on actual legislative proposals.

鈥淭here clearly are types of munitions and types of weapons that should only be allowed to be sold and owned if the individuals have a very legitimate reason for doing so,鈥� Hanger said. 鈥淸But] that鈥檚 something that tends to be a little more complicated in terms of Second Amendment rights.鈥�

Still, Hanger and Wilt made clear they were wary of infringing on the gun ownership rights of their constituents.

鈥淚f you begin the process of selectively restricting gun ownerships it is a slippery slope,鈥� Hanger said, adding that more focus should be put on identifying and treating people who are mentally ill.

Added Wilt: 鈥淲e need to be very careful starting down a road when we start limiting and restricting and banning until we鈥檙e absolutely sure what we鈥檙e talking about.鈥�

Courtesy Daily News Record, Jan. 3, 2013