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Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses
3 Months Ended
Dec. 24, 2022
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses
4.
Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses

Suburban Renewable Energy owns a 25% equity stake in Independence Hydrogen, Inc. (“IH”) based in Ashburn, VA. IH is a veteran-owned and operated, privately held company developing a gaseous hydrogen ecosystem to deliver locally sourced hydrogen to local markets, with a primary focus on material handling and backup power applications.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, Suburban Renewable Energy announced an agreement to construct, own and operate a new biodigester system with Adirondack Farms, a family dairy farm located in Clinton County, New York, for the production of renewable natural gas (“RNG”). Construction of the assets began during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, and is expected to be completed within 18-24 months.

The Operating Partnership owns a 38% equity stake in Oberon Fuels, Inc. (“Oberon”) based in San Diego, California and has also purchased certain secured convertible notes issued by Oberon. Oberon, a development-stage producer of low-carbon, renewable dimethyl ether (“rDME”) transportation fuel, is focused on the research and development of practical and affordable pathways to zero-emission transportation through its proprietary production process. Oberon's rDME fuel is a low-carbon, zero-soot alternative to petroleum diesel, and when blended with propane can significantly reduce its carbon intensity. Additionally, rDME is a carrier for

hydrogen, making it easy to deliver this renewable fuel for the growing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry. During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Operating Partnership purchased an additional secured convertible note issued by Oberon.

These investments and partnerships were made in line with the Partnership’s Go Green with Suburban Propane corporate pillar, which focuses on advocating for the clean-burning and versatile nature of propane and renewable propane as a solution to a lower carbon future and investing in innovative, renewable energy alternatives to lower GHG emissions. The investments in IH and Oberon are being accounted for under the equity method of accounting and were included in “Other assets” within the condensed consolidated balance sheets, and the Partnership’s equity in their earnings were included in “Other, net” within the condensed consolidated statements of operations.