John Ragonese has been named the recipient of the 2024 Dr. Kenneth Henwood Award, an honor bestowed by the National Hydropower Association (NHA) to individuals who have displayed longtime commitment to innovation, collaboration and community within the water power industry. He was presented with the award by last year’s Henwood Award winner, Alvin Thoma, at NHA’s Clean Currents Conference and Trade Show in Portland, Oregon.
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Mr. Ragonese has enjoyed a career of more than 40 years with Great River Hydro, which provides hydroelectricity throughout New England. Prior to entering the world of hydropower, he gained experience working for the U.S. Forest Service and spent time producing shows for legendary acts like Aerosmith, Bob Dylan and Bonnie Raitt. His father, Carmen, who passed away the year John entered the water power industry, instilled in him a love of people and a strong work ethic that has powered his incredible career. It’s no surprise then, that Ragonese’s accomplishments within his company and the industry at large are numerous and impressive.
Woven through these many achievements is a clear focus on creating community and finding common ground among diverse stakeholders. This includes his efforts in the 1990’s during the relicensing of the Deerfield River Project in Vermont and Massachusetts to negotiate successfully with local boating representatives. This led to improved relationships between the hydro industry and whitewater enthusiasts – relationships that remain stronger to this day. He 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. And he strived to advance the use of digital technology when working with federal regulators, helping to develop the first interactive, digital Emergency Action Plan (EAP) submitted to FERC by a licensee. This, in turn, has led to better evacuation plans among local first responders.
Outside of his impressive career, Ragonese finds additional purpose through his family and larger community. He and his wife Linda, a public-school educator of 30 years, live in a historic home in Portsmouth NH with their son, Jackson. Ragonese spends his free time saltwater fishing, escaping to nature in his 40-acre woodlot, and teaching life lessons and teamwork to young people as a youth club soccer coach, which he has done for 25 years – even serving as a board member of the United Sports Foundation, which works to increase access to competitive sports and award college scholarships.
NHA congratulates John, as well as his family and Great River Hydro, on this well-deserved honor.