Over the years, many folks in the water power industry have come to know and appreciate John Ragonese. And last fall, after decades of service in hydro, he gained even more admirers after winning the Henwood Award at NHA’s Clean Currents Conference and Trade Show in Portland, Oregon.  

The Henwood Award is one of the top individual honors the water power industry bestows. It’s named after Dr. Kenneth Henwood, a staunch defender of hydropower. He tragically passed away in 1990 from injuries he sustained from a fall that occurred while surveying a site for a potential hydropower project.  

Since 1991, NHA has bestowed this award annually in his honor to a person who has demonstrated long time commitment to water power innovation and fostered connections in and out of the field. A panel of industry leaders carefully reviews and debates the roster of stellar nominees, closely analyzing extensive resumes to determine who has made the greatest lasting impact.

If you’re interested in pursuing a Henwood Award, or if you’d like to nominate a deserving individual, the Henwood Award is currently accepting applications and closes June 30, 2025.

From Left: Alvin Thoma (former NHA Board President), John Ragonese (Henwood Award Winner), Malcolm Woolf (NHA President and CEO) stand on the Clean Currents dais during the Henwood Award ceremony in Portland, Oregon, 2024.

THE STORY BEHIND THE WINNER

For someone like me, who is newer to this industry, the Henwood Award reminds me that we’re more than the power we provide; we are a community of people passionate about helping others, spurring innovation, and building bridges with our friends, neighbors, and even our opponents. 

These attributes, and many more, become quickly evident when you get to know John Ragonese. I was honored to organize the committee that ultimately selected him, and I was pleased to speak with him recently about what this accolade means to him and the many milestones in his remarkable career. 

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Ragonese has enjoyed a career of more than 40 years working on a number of Connecticut River hydroelectric projects, owned currently by Great River Hydro LLC, which have provided hydroelectricity throughout New England since 1908.

Prior to entering the world of hydropower, Ragonese gained experience working for the U.S. Forest Service, and managed privately held forestlands, instilling a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. While in college, Ragonese produced music concerts, including legendary acts like Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, and Bonnie Raitt. 

Last year, Ragonese retired from his full-time position at Great River Hydro but still retains an advisory role – underscoring his passion for water power and strong institutional knowledge – valuable in a hydro-heavy region like New England.  

“Hydro, particularly in the winter, is really important due to the price volatility in energy markets. [It’s critical] to preserve operational flexibility and really preserve storage if you have it,” Ragonese told me when I asked just how vital this technology is in his backyard. 

As he advanced in his career, Ragonese sought greater connection and collaboration with other water power professionals, leading him to the National Hydropower Association (NHA). In my conversation with him, it’s clear that NHA, where he served in various leadership roles, has been integral to the strong community he has built in the industry. Yet it came as a surprise when Ragonese received a call from prior Henwood Award winner, Alvin Thoma, letting him know he had been chosen by a committee of his peers to receive the accolade. 

“My jaw dropped, to be honest with you. I couldn’t honestly believe it — to be honored and identified was beyond imagination,” John told me.  

Ragonese formally accepted the award from Thoma last October at Clean Currents. He still laments the fact that his acceptance speech lasted longer than the five minutes allotted in the schedule, but he felt strongly about thanking the many people that were integral to his career success. It was well worth it.  

Later that day, Ragonese recalls speaking to an attendee from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) who thanked John for acknowledging the agency on stage. The federal employee remarked that they couldn’t recall another time this important regulatory body had been given a shout out like that before. This show of support wasn’t a one-off; Ragonese is also an original founder of the Hydropower Public Safety Interest Group, a national organization that helped create initial guidelines and recommendations for FERC’s public safety program. He also worked closely with the Dam Safety division to improve Emergency Action Plans as well as five-year exercises and training.   

Ragonese describes his leadership style as “someone who pushes the envelope a little bit to make change.” He is not afraid confront the status quo, tackle contentious issues, educate, and speak truth to power.  

For example, Ragonese broke through tension and built a lasting relationship with recreational groups during the relicensing of the Deerfield River Project in Vermont and Massachusetts. At the time, many of the facilities’ bypasses had no minimum flow requirement, much to the chagrin of boaters and fishermen who hoped to either whitewater boat or fish these sections. While his boss at the time, who Ragonese describes as “an old-school hydro guy,” referred to them as ‘emergency bypasses,’ he reminded him, “yes, but everybody else calls them the river!” 

Seeing the need for sensible reform, Ragonese ultimately worked to reach an agreement that provided schedule releases in the most appropriate sections. This led to an important boating resource and economy and preserved important fishing opportunities in others. That approach carried on throughout the recreation plan he developed, where highest and best uses were identified, distinguished, and preserved –providing recreational and economic benefits that help a wide array of stakeholders.  

At NHA, he found like-minded colleagues and industry partners who became fast friends. He used his time with NHA colleagues to educate and inform about the unique needs and priorities of non-utility hydro generators participating in New England’s deregulated wholesale energy markets, while also making time for fun – including tennis games with NHA Board members and staff. 

WHAT COMES NEXT?

For Ragonese, service and fun go hand in hand. He has been a youth soccer coach for 25 years – teaching the sport and its life lessons to kids in his community. He also served as a board member of the United Sports Foundation, a New England non-profit that works to increase access to competitive sports and award college scholarships. 

As Ragonese eases into retirement, he’s enjoying devoting more time to his other passions, like boating, saltwater fishing, and maintaining his historic home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But he’s most looking forward to making more memories with his family – that includes his son, Jackson, daughters Erin and Ariana, grandkids, and his wife Lynda, a  public-school educator of 30 years, anxiously awaiting her retirement. Recently, he even returned to his beloved UNH, not to produce a rock concert, but to guest lecture on hydropower. 

I have a hunch that wherever John’s next chapter takes him, water power and the hydro community he cultivated will never be too far away. 

Nominations for the 2025 Henwood Award are now open and will close June 30, 2025.

Follow the links to submit a nomination and to learn more about the Dr. Kenneth Henwood.