Fueling the Future, One Family at a Time
In a quiet corner of Oakville, Connecticut, Sue Santopietro is doing more than delivering fuel—she’s helping to reshape the future of home heating. As the owner of Baribault Fuel and a member of the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association (CEMA), Santopietro recently joined Mission Possible: Delivering Greener Fuel Today, a podcast produced by CEMA and hosted by Shelly Sindland, to talk about the clean energy transition that’s already happening in communities across the state.
For Santopietro, who proudly runs one of Connecticut’s many independent, family-owned fuel companies, the shift toward greener fuel isn’t just a professional milestone—it’s a personal mission.
“It means everything to me,” she said. “Like most of us in this industry, I’m a mother, and I want a clean environment going forward. But I also want that environment to include liquid heating fuel because I think it’s a wonderful way to heat your home.”
That vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future is already taking shape in Connecticut. Today’s home heating oil is not the same product it was a generation ago. Nearly all sulfur—a key contributor to pollution and equipment wear—has been removed, making the fuel ultra-low sulfur and dramatically reducing emissions. In addition, it’s now being blended with biodiesel made from waste products like used restaurant cooking oil and soybean remnants. The result? A renewable, recycled, and remarkably clean-burning fuel that’s as innovative as it is practical.
Santopietro believes this transformation is not only good for the planet but also good for people—and for the small businesses that serve them.
“What makes our industry so unique is that it’s built on personal relationships,” she explained. “This isn’t a monopoly or a faceless utility company. We’re your neighbors. If you have a problem, you’re calling someone who lives and works in your town—and we’re right there for you.”
That commitment to community is something Santopietro says is being threatened by an increasing push from government agencies to electrify everything—from cars to home heating systems.
“What concerns me the most is that choices are being taken away from the consumer,” she said. “The consumer wins when there are more choices. And in Connecticut, we’ve worked hard to make our product cleaner and more sustainable. So why take this away and force people onto a grid that’s already expensive and not always reliable?”
Santopietro is a strong advocate for fuel diversity. Consumers should be able to evaluate all their options—whether electric, gas, or renewable liquid fuels—and make decisions based on their individual needs and values. Taking that choice away, she argues, doesn’t just impact businesses like hers—it impacts every homeowner in the state.
“If consumers only have one option, prices go up and service goes down,” she said. “That’s the risk with full electrification. With local fuel dealers, it’s a competitive market. If someone isn’t happy with their provider, there are many others vying for their business. That’s good for the consumer.”
Santopietro remains optimistic about her industry despite current electrification efforts. She is deeply committed to the people she serves.
“We love our job. We love our customers. That’s not something you hear a lot these days, but it’s true,” she said. “We show up every day to serve our community. That’s what this business is about.”
To hear more from Sue Santopietro and learn how Connecticut’s fuel dealers are delivering cleaner, greener energy today—not in some distant future—listen to the latest episode of Mission Possible: Delivering Greener Fuel Today. The podcast is available now on all major streaming platforms and YouTube. #MissionPossibleCEMA