Shane Sweet remembered for contributions to propane industry

Shane Sweet, a respected leader, educator and advocate for the propane, petroleum and heating fuels industry, passed away on July 16 in Raceland, Louisiana, at the age of 66.

Born on March 2, 1960, in Granville, New York, Sweet graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology before beginning a career in the energy industry in 1982 with a family-owned fuel company in Vermont. There, he gained hands-on experience in every aspect of the business, including heating oil, propane, diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene and equipment. Over the next four decades, he became one of the industry’s most respected voices, known for his expertise in regulatory compliance, propane and natural gas jurisdictional systems and employee training. His work helped companies operate more safely, effectively and confidently.

Sweet served as a general manager, division manager and operations manager for retail fuel companies before moving into association leadership. He was executive director of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association for nearly 15 years, chief executive officer of the New England Fuel Institute and executive director and technical director of the New York Propane Gas Association. In 2019, he launched his consulting practice, later co-founding the Propane Advisory Group and PropaneAndOilTraining.com with his friend and colleague Mike DiGiorgio. Together, they delivered live, interactive training programs for propane and heating fuel professionals throughout North America. Sweet also shared his knowledge as a longtime columnist for Fuel Oil News and contributor to Propane Canada magazine.

Education and safety were at the heart of everything Sweet did. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped create the Virtual Propane Expo, bringing together hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals through online education when in-person events were impossible. Working alongside Mike DiGiorgio and other industry leaders, he helped develop educational programming and recruit nationally recognized speakers. He also founded the Northeast Mid-Atlantic Oil & Propane Safety Compliance Working Group, fostering cooperation among industry leaders to improve safety and regulatory compliance.

Sweet was predeceased by his first wife, Maryanne, and is survived by his wife, Jill.

His legacy lives on in the thousands of professionals he educated, the friendships he fostered, the safety initiatives he championed and the stronger, more connected industry he helped build. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers or a formal memorial service, those wishing to honor Sweet’s memory are encouraged to make a donation to their local Humane Society or to the Humane Society of their choice.

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