Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., the Morris County-based energy giant, announced a major executive promotion on Thursday, as it accelerates its shift toward a low-carbon future. M. Douglas Dagan has been named senior vice president – Renewable Energy, a newly created role designed to consolidate the company’s rapidly growing green energy portfolio under a single leader.
Headquartered in Whippany, Suburban Propane has served as a cornerstone of the New Jersey business community since 1928. While traditionally known as a nationwide propane distributor, the company has spent the last five years aggressively investing in renewable natural gas (RNG), hydrogen, and ultra-low-carbon fuels.
In his new role, Dagan will oversee the strategic growth and day-to-day operations of Suburban Renewable Energy, LLC, the company’s dedicated clean-energy subsidiary. The move aims to bridge the gap between long-term corporate development and the hands-on management of renewable assets.
“This well-deserved promotion aligns with our long-term strategy to build and grow a renewable energy platform,” Michael Stivala, president and CEO of Suburban Propane said. “By combining our strategic activities with day-to-day operations under one senior leader, we will ensure that strategic priorities are translated seamlessly into operational execution.”
Dagan, a New Jersey resident with a background in chemistry and energy law, has been a key architect of the company’s “Go Green” initiative since 2021. His portfolio now includes several high-tech energy projects across the U.S.:
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Renewable Natural Gas (RNG): Oversight of three operational anaerobic digester facilities in New York, Ohio, and Arizona that turn waste into pipeline-grade gas.
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Propane+rDME: Managing the rollout of a blended fuel that combines renewable propane with renewable dimethyl ether (rDME) to create a carbon-negative energy source.
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Hydrogen Frontier: Strategic investments in Independence Hydrogen, which is building a distribution network for fuel-cell-grade hydrogen.
With approximately 3,300 employees and a presence in 42 states, Suburban Propane’s pivot toward renewables is being watched closely as a model for traditional energy companies. In New Jersey, where the state has set ambitious goals for a 100% clean energy economy by 2035, Suburban’s investment in “drop-in” renewable fuels provides a pathway for residential and commercial customers to reduce their carbon footprint without replacing existing heating or cooking equipment.
Dagan, who holds degrees from Middlebury College, Vermont Law School and the Yale School of the Environment, previously worked with the United Nations and the Natural Resources Defense Council before joining the Whippany team.
