{"id":64587,"date":"2025-04-24T13:46:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T20:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=64587"},"modified":"2025-04-24T13:46:08","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T20:46:08","slug":"lexmark-dedicates-lexington-headquarters-solar-array-to-late-chief-sustainability-officer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/news\/2025\/04\/lexmark-dedicates-lexington-headquarters-solar-array-to-late-chief-sustainability-officer\/","title":{"rendered":"Lexmark Dedicates Lexington Headquarters Solar Array to Late Chief Sustainability Officer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Lexington, KY (April 22, 2025)<\/em> \u2014 At Lexmark, sustainability is a core value woven into the fabric of our operations and culture. This Earth Day, we&#8217;re honoring a figure central to our sustainability journey \u2014 our late chief sustainability officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting April 22, the 2-megawatt solar array at our Lexington, Ky., global headquarters will be known as the John D. Gagel Solar Array.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"706\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lexmark.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lexmark.png 706w, https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lexmark-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A testament to Gagel&#8217;s vision and commitment, the Lexmark solar array \u2014 the largest ground-mounted corporate array in Kentucky, according to state officials \u2014 serves as more than just a source of renewable energy. It is a vibrant symbol of his passion to integrate sustainability into everything we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A decade-long dream realized<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more than a decade, Gagel championed the idea of harnessing the sun&#8217;s power to reduce Lexmark&#8217;s environmental footprint. Ground was broken on the array in April 2022 in a ceremony led by Gagel, along with state and local leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building the array wasn&#8217;t easy \u2014 it was met with many logistical hurdles and regulatory approvals \u2014 but Gagel knew it was a worthwhile investment. Not only was he persistent, but he took a holistic approach for this project, which led to the creation of a pollinator habitat beneath the panels, complete with beehives that produce Lexmark&#8217;s very own honey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The array officially became operational in November 2023. Gagel died suddenly in October 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Early impact by the numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In just over a year of operation, the John D. Gagel Solar Array has made a significant impact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Energy generation:<\/strong> The array has generated about 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh). This amount of energy equates to 2,397 metric tons of carbon dioxide, saving the energy needed to heat or cool 296 homes for a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cost savings:<\/strong> The array has saved Lexmark about 13% in annual energy costs at the Lexington site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ensuring Gagel&#8217;s vision continues to thrive, the solar array is also contributing toward two of Lexmark&#8217;s significant sustainability goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Increasing our annual sourcing of renewable energy (Scope 2), including on-site generated solar energy and procurement of Renewable Energy Certificates, to 80% by this year and 100% by 2030. <\/li><li>Becoming carbon neutral across our global operations by 2035.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A community impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond the numbers, the John D. Gagel Solar Array has also had a positive impact on our community. When we completed installation of the solar array, there were no large corporate solar arrays in the Lexington area. Since then, we&#8217;ve welcomed students and community members for tours, showcasing the power of renewable energy and inspiring others to act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Lexmark&#8217;s vision to take a brownfield and turn it into a renewable energy facility shows how Kentucky businesses and manufacturers can lead in sustainability, integrate into the community and be a showcase for energy education,&#8221; said Kenya Stump, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy in the state Energy and Environment Cabinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A legacy of kindness and collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This Earth Day, Lexmark employees gathered with Gagel&#8217;s family and friends for a private ceremony to dedicate the solar array in his honor. The event included the unveiling of a plaque bearing an African proverb that embodies Gagel&#8217;s collaborative spirit: &#8220;If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;John was a thoughtful person who believed in the power of teamwork,&#8221; said Gagel&#8217;s longtime colleague Lee Ann Disponett, Lexmark&#8217;s manager of Corporate Sustainability and Environmental, Health and Safety. &#8220;He befriended everyone he worked with on his sustainability journey, and he truly worked to make the world around him a better place than he found it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A lasting vision that fuels the future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gagel&#8217;s vision extends beyond Lexington. We&#8217;re proud to announce that a new 0.5-megawatt solar array is planned for our site in Ju\u00e1rez, Mexico, with groundbreaking expected in the coming weeks. Inspired by Gagel&#8217;s leadership, this project will further reduce our global carbon footprint and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability across our operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We celebrate Gagel&#8217;s remarkable legacy and his unwavering commitment to sustainability. The John D. Gagel Solar Array stands as a powerful symbol of his vision, inspiring us to continue pushing the boundaries of what&#8217;s possible and to work together to create a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lexington, KY (April 22, 2025) \u2014 At Lexmark, sustainability is a core value woven into the fabric of our operations and culture. This Earth Day, we&#8217;re honoring a figure central to our sustainability journey \u2014 our late chief sustainability officer. Starting April 22, the 2-megawatt solar array at our Lexington, Ky., global headquarters will be known as the John D. Gagel Solar Array. A testament to Gagel&#8217;s vision and commitment, the Lexmark solar array \u2014 the largest ground-mounted corporate array in Kentucky, according to state officials \u2014 serves as more than just a source of renewable energy. It is a vibrant symbol of his passion to integrate sustainability into everything we do. A decade-long dream realized For more than a decade, Gagel championed the idea of harnessing the sun&#8217;s power to reduce Lexmark&#8217;s environmental footprint. Ground was broken on the array in April 2022 in a ceremony led by Gagel, along with state and local leaders. Building the array wasn&#8217;t easy \u2014 it was met with many logistical hurdles and regulatory approvals \u2014 but Gagel knew it was a worthwhile investment. Not only was he persistent, but he took a holistic approach for this project, which led to the creation of a pollinator habitat beneath the panels, complete with beehives that produce Lexmark&#8217;s very own honey. The array officially became operational in November 2023. Gagel died suddenly in October 2024. Early impact by the numbers In just over a year of operation, the John D. Gagel Solar Array has made a significant impact: Energy generation: The array has generated about 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh). This amount of energy equates to 2,397 metric tons of carbon dioxide, saving the energy needed to heat or cool 296 homes for a year. Cost savings: The array has saved Lexmark about 13% in annual energy costs at the Lexington site. Ensuring Gagel&#8217;s vision continues to thrive, the solar array is also contributing toward two of Lexmark&#8217;s significant sustainability goals: Increasing our annual sourcing of renewable energy (Scope 2), including on-site generated solar energy and procurement of Renewable Energy Certificates, to 80% by this year and 100% by 2030. Becoming carbon neutral across our global operations by 2035. A community impact Beyond the numbers, the John D. Gagel Solar Array has also had a positive impact on our community. When we completed installation of the solar array, there were no large corporate solar arrays in the Lexington area. Since then, we&#8217;ve welcomed students and community members for tours, showcasing the power of renewable energy and inspiring others to act. &#8220;Lexmark&#8217;s vision to take a brownfield and turn it into a renewable energy facility shows how Kentucky businesses and manufacturers can lead in sustainability, integrate into the community and be a showcase for energy education,&#8221; said Kenya Stump, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy in the state Energy and Environment Cabinet. A legacy of kindness and collaboration This Earth Day, Lexmark employees gathered with Gagel&#8217;s family and friends for a private ceremony to dedicate the solar array in his honor. The event included the unveiling of a plaque bearing an African proverb that embodies Gagel&#8217;s collaborative spirit: &#8220;If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.&#8221; &#8220;John was a thoughtful person who believed in the power of teamwork,&#8221; said Gagel&#8217;s longtime colleague Lee Ann Disponett, Lexmark&#8217;s manager of Corporate Sustainability and Environmental, Health and Safety. &#8220;He befriended everyone he worked with on his sustainability journey, and he truly worked to make the world around him a better place than he found it.&#8221; A lasting vision that fuels the future Gagel&#8217;s vision extends beyond Lexington. We&#8217;re proud to announce that a new 0.5-megawatt solar array is planned for our site in Ju\u00e1rez, Mexico, with groundbreaking expected in the coming weeks. Inspired by Gagel&#8217;s leadership, this project will further reduce our global carbon footprint and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability across our operations. We celebrate Gagel&#8217;s remarkable legacy and his unwavering commitment to sustainability. The John D. Gagel Solar Array stands as a powerful symbol of his vision, inspiring us to continue pushing the boundaries of what&#8217;s possible and to work together to create a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[86],"tags":[228],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64587"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64589,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64587\/revisions\/64589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}