Lonnie Bellar oversees enterprise-wide engineering and construction services for generation, electricity and gas transmission and distribution; energy supply and analysis; and environmental compliance for the PPL enterprise. Bellar is also responsible for PPL’s Kentucky generation fleet. He reports to PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi.
Before his current position, Bellar served as senior vice president of Engineering and Construction for PPL, driving consolidation of engineering and large construction projects across PPL’s operating companies. Previously, he was chief operating officer of Louisville Gas & Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company. In that role, he was responsible for all operations areas including generation, energy supply and analysis, electric distribution and transmission, gas distribution and storage, safety, environmental and customer service. He has participated in major regulatory proceedings and has more than 35 years of experience in the energy industry.
Bellar joined Kentucky Utilities in 1987 as an electrical engineer. He held several engineering roles in the transmission and generation areas. Bellar was promoted to director of Generation Services in 2000 and subsequently served as general manager of LG&E’s Cane Run and Ohio Falls generating stations, director of Financial Planning and Controlling, director of Transmission, vice president of State Regulation and Rates, vice president of Gas Distribution and senior vice president Operations.
Bellar participated in a dual-degree program receiving a bachelor’s degree in engineering arts from Georgetown College and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky. He also has completed executive education courses at the Harvard Business School and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Bellar was named to the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Hall of Distinction, which recognizes alumni with distinguished engineering and professional accomplishments and commitment to community service.
Bellar is active in the community and serves on the Metro United Way board of directors; TreesLouisville board of directors; and the University of Kentucky Engineering School dean’s advisory council. Bellar is a past board chair of Greater Louisville Inc., Louisville’s regional chamber of commerce. He also serves on the board of directors for the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation and the Southeast Energy Exchange Market.
