Catholic Diocese of Lexington takes bold step on climate change across KY | Opinion
.png "Bishop John Stowe stands in front of the Holy Family Church in Booneville with solar panels on the roof, part of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington’s pursuit of net zero emissions by 2030.")
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington Diocese commits to net-zero emissions across 50 counties by 2030.
- Project includes energy audits, electric conversion, and solar panel rollout.
- Faith-driven climate plan aligns Church with global renewable energy trends.
As President Trump harangued the United Nations about the “scam” of climate change and renewable energy earlier this week, the Catholic Diocese of Lexington decided to follow the lead of different world leaders.
Bishop John Stowe of Lexington and his leadership team have laid out an ambitious plan to turn all the buildings in the diocese’s facilities — which covers 50 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky — net zero by 2030.
The plan is based on Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si,” from 2015, an encyclical that called on the global Catholic church to respond to the urgent crisis of climate change.
His successor, Pope Leo XIV, followed up on the call with an action plan. As part of that, he has invited Lexington’s church leaders to the “Raising Hope Conference” in Rome on Oct. 1, 2025, aimed at advancing the global dialogue about sustainable solutions to global warming.
“Caring for God’s creation is not a choice, but a responsibility that flows from our faith,” Stowe said in a release. “With this Net-Zero Plan, we are moving beyond words to action, demonstrating that the Church can and must lead in addressing the climate crisis. Our commitment is rooted in hope, guided by the Gospel, and inspired by the call of Pope Francis in Laudato Sí to protect our common home.”
The diocese is made up of 59 parishes in the 50 counties and includes numerous schools and rectories. Josh Van Cleef, Director of Peace and Justice, said the first step is doing energy audits of all those properties and determining how their utilities can be switched from gas to electric. Then they will look at the buildings that don’t already have solar panels to use renewable energy for what they hope will be the majority of the diocese’s electric needs.
“Net zero” means achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed, resulting in no net addition of these gases.
“This effort is a matter of faith for us,” Van Cleef said. “Caring for God’s creation is the duty of every Christian.”
The church is moving fast to take advantage of solar tax credits, which are being phased out by the Trump administration. Adam Edelen, whose company Edelen Renewables is involved in solar projects around Eastern Kentucky, chaired the Diocese’s Net Zero Task Force.
“The Diocese of Lexington is setting a powerful example of what leadership looks like in the 21st century, linking faith, innovation, and sustainability,” Edelen said. “By committing to Net-Zero, the diocese is showing that environmental stewardship can unite communities, strengthen economies, and create a legacy of care for generations to come.”
Other partners include Lexmark, Alltech, Solar Energy Solutions, Toyota and Appalachian Regional Healthcare.
This is a brave, principled move by the Catholic Church and its partners in a state where legislators are still making laws to favor the coal industry, and in a country whose leadership flatly denies the climate change we see all around us.
Coal powered America for a long time, and it’s easy to understand Kentucky’s loyalty to it, but market forces are pushing us in other directions. According to the International Energy Agency, 80% of the growth in global electricity generation in 2024 was from renewable and nuclear sources, contributing 40% of the world’s total electricity generation for the first time. Solar and wind accounted for 16% of the United States’ electricity, surpassing coal.
The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet tracks coal statistics, showing there are 3,791 coal mine employees statewide, a 59% drop from 2015.
Kentucky is already bearing the brunt of climate change, with many more devastating floods and tornadoes that have taken hundreds of lives. More organizations that ignore the politics and face reality in this quickly changing world can help us mitigate a problem that we may already be too late to stop. The Catholic Church is now part of the solution.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM.