This Earth Day, Lexmark is honouring a figure central to its sustainability journey, the company’s late chief sustainability officer.
Starting 22 April, the 2-megawatt solar array at its Lexington, Ky., global headquarters will be known as the John D. Gagel Solar Array.
A testament to Gagel’s vision and commitment, the Lexmark solar array, the largest ground-mounted corporate array in Kentucky, according to state officials, 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.
For more than a decade, Gagel championed the idea of harnessing the sun’s power to reduce Lexmark’s environmental footprint. Ground was broken on the array in April 2022 in a ceremony led by Gagel, along with state and local leaders.
Lexmark said in its blog post: “Building the array wasn’t easy — it was met with many logistical hurdles and regulatory approvals — 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’s very own honey.”
The array officially became operational in November 2023. Gagel died suddenly in October 2024.
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.
“Lexmark’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,” said Kenya Stump, Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy in the state Energy and Environment Cabinet.
This Earth Day, Lexmark employees gathered with Gagel’s family and friends for a private ceremony to dedicate the solar array in his honour. The event included the unveiling of a plaque bearing an African proverb that embodies Gagel’s collaborative spirit: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
“John was a thoughtful person who believed in the power of teamwork,” said Gagel’s longtime colleague Lee Ann Disponett, Lexmark’s Manager of Corporate Sustainability and Environmental, Health and Safety. “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.”
Read the full blog post here.
