Progress Energy names new chief in Florida
Sentinel Staff Writer
Progress Energy named Vincent M. Dolan Tuesday as the new president and chief executive officer for the company’s electric utility in Florida.
Dolan, 54, replaces Jeffrey J. Lyash, 47, the head of Florida operations since 2006 and vocal proponent for Progress efforts to build a nuclear plant with a pair of reactors in Levy County.
Dolan has been with Progress, based in Raleigh, N.C., since 1986. He most recently has served as vice president of external relations for Progress Energy in Florida. The change takes effect early next month.
Progress was the target of furious criticism from Florida customers angry about a rate hike this year that the company eventually reduced. Part of the increase was to raise money for early planning and construction costs of the proposed nuclear plant, which is slated to open between 2020 and 2022.
Lyash will transfer to North Carolina to become executive vice president for corporate development, overseeing energy efficiency, renewable energy resources and development of advanced power plants.
Progress Energy has 3.1 million customers, with about half in Florida and about 750,000 in the Orlando region, including Polk Count