Dr. Kenneth Henwood Award is industry’s most prestigious honor
Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2021) – The National Hydropower Association (NHA) is pleased to announce Thomas “Tom” J. Sullivan, PE as the recipient of the 2021 Dr. Kenneth Henwood Award at the inaugural Clean Currents. The Henwood Award is the hydropower industry’s highest honor and celebrates a lifetime of achievement to those who show great leadership. In recognition of his dedication to the industry, Tom was selected by a committee of his peers.
“As a visionary and leader in hydropower, we are thrilled to honor Tom with the Henwood Award,” said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association. “Being on the forefront of modern licensing precedents, Tom has made lasting contributions to the hydropower industry. Tom brought together diverse public and private entities to balance power and non-power interests, ensuring that projects are managed over their respective license terms to improve resource protection, while recognizing the strategic value that hydropower plays in the United States energy mix. On behalf of the hydropower industry, we would like to congratulate Tom for being a true pioneer.”
“It’s very rewarding when you work hard at something for a long time,” said Tom when asked about what it means to him to receive the Henwood Award. “I’m very thankful for all the people I’ve worked with and continue to work with in my family and at Gomez and Sullivan. This is as much their award as it is mine.”
Tom Sullivan, PE is currently the Principal/Sr. Water Resources Engineer at Gomez and Sullivan D.P.C, a consulting company he co-founded with Jerry Gomez in February 1993. Tom has dedicated 40+ years of his career to the hydropower industry in a variety of areas including hydropower rehabilitation, upgrades, and development, and regulatory affairs and licensings. Over the course of his career Tom has been directly involved in the licensing of some of the largest and most complex hydropower projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Tom was also directly involved in facilitating and/or mediating some of the first comprehensive settlement agreements in New England and New York. Most notable among these was the Deerfield River Hydroelectric Project, which was one of the first FERC licensings resulting in a comprehensive Settlement Agreement involving numerous state and federal agencies, as well as various NGOs.
Tom (and Gomez and Sullivan) has been an active member and supporter of NHA via a variety of roles. Such roles include numerous sponsorship contributions for various NHA initiatives, moderating conference sessions, offering training seminars, serving as a member of NHA’s CEO Council, and, most recently, serving as an Advisory Member to the NHA Board of Directors.
About the Henwood Award
• The Dr. Kenneth Henwood Award is presented to an individual within the hydro industry who exhibits:
• Dedication to hydropower as an energy technology;
• Persistence in the face of institutional obstacles;
• Appreciation and understanding of the relationships among project engineering, environment and economics;
• A strong commitment for fair dealing and plain speaking; and
• Uncommon energy, enthusiasm, and excitement as a leading force in the industry.
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