Net-Zero Commitment

Catholic Diocese of Lexington Begins Implementation Phase of Net-Zero Plan

By 2030, the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, will transition to renewable energy and plans to attain Net-Zero status for Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

The Diocese’s Laudato Sí Action Plan, published on January 1, 2025, included concrete commitments from each of its parishes and missions, along with Diocesan-wide commitments, and outlined the pathway forward. This ambitious effort includes solar installations at all possible locations, starting those projects by the end of June 2026.

This effort is a concrete response to the call from the late Pope Francis, in his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Sí, to care for our common home. Recalling the words of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV wrote recently:

“Now is the time to follow words with deeds. ‘Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.’”

The development of this plan brought together leaders in the field of sustainability and relied on their expertise. Special thanks to the members of our Net-Zero Task Force, Edelen Renewables, and Adam Edelen, Chair of the Task Force and primary advisor for the Diocese. Special thanks also to The Catholic Extension Society for its partnership, support, and commitment to the Church’s leadership in protecting God’s Creation.

The Net-Zero Plan, while Diocesan in scope, places great confidence in the courage and ongoing commitment of every Catholic parish, school, and ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Lexington. Together, we entrust our efforts to the Holy Spirit, Giver of Life, and look to the future with hope.