⚡ 1480 RENAISSANCE DR

TO: Sunland America Corp. Development Committee

FROM: Senior BESS Site Evaluation Analyst

DATE: October 26, 2023

SUBJECT: Comprehensive Site Diligence Analysis – Project "Renaissance" (1480 Renaissance Dr, Park Ridge, IL 60068)

This report provides a comprehensive due diligence analysis for the property located at 1480 Renaissance Dr, Park Ridge, in Cook County, Illinois (APN: 09221100050000). The analysis evaluates the site's suitability for a distribution-scale (≤5MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project based on key technical, environmental, regulatory, and financial criteria.

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Equipment Delivery: The site is located within a well-developed corporate office park, immediately adjacent to Interstate 294. Primary access is via Renaissance Drive and South Dee Road, both of which are paved, multi-lane public roads capable of handling heavy vehicle traffic. This existing high-quality infrastructure is a significant advantage, suggesting that delivery of heavy equipment, including battery containers, transformers, and cranes, will be straightforward with minimal need for road improvements.

Terrain & Site Preparation: The topography in Park Ridge and the surrounding Chicago metropolitan area is exceptionally flat. The subject parcel is developed with an existing office building and associated parking, indicating it has been previously graded. This significantly reduces the need for extensive earthwork, lowering civil construction costs. The primary buildability challenge will be working around the existing infrastructure, not overcoming topographical hurdles.

Heavy Equipment Access: Given the commercial nature of the area and robust road network, access for all necessary construction and delivery vehicles is considered excellent. There appear to be no low-clearance bridges, tight turning radii, or weight-restricted roads that would impede the delivery of a 90-ton transformer or 40-foot battery enclosures.

Easement Concerns: As a developed commercial parcel within an office park, the property is almost certainly encumbered by multiple easements (utility, access, drainage). A full ALTA survey and title report are critical to identify the location and restrictions of these easements, which could materially constrain the final BESS layout. Requires Verification.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is currently unknown and represents a critical data gap. A desktop review using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center is an immediate next step. If the site is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (e.g., Zone A, AE), development costs would increase substantially due to required elevation of equipment, and the site could be deemed unviable. An ideal designation is Zone X (minimal flood risk).

Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is unknown. A National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) desktop screening is required. While a developed office park is less likely to contain jurisdictional wetlands, adjacent drainage features or undeveloped portions could be impacted. If potential wetlands are identified, a formal wetland delineation would be necessary, which could introduce significant setbacks and reduce the buildable area.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The provided data indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or near the site, which is a significant positive. This low-risk profile is expected for a highly developed, urbanized location. A routine check of the USFWS IPaC database is still recommended as a standard diligence practice.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The presence of one brownfield site within a two-mile radius is noted. This does not qualify the subject property for the 10% IRA brownfield tax credit adder, which requires the project to be sited on a designated brownfield. Instead, this proximity presents a minor risk of potential contaminant migration. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) will be essential to assess this risk and establish a baseline environmental condition.

Pipeline Proximity: No major gas or hazardous liquid pipelines are identified within a three-mile radius, which is a positive safety and layout finding, eliminating the need for pipeline-related setback and safety analyses.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Substation & Distribution Lines: This is the most significant unknown and highest-risk category for the site. No substation data was provided. The nearest identified infrastructure is a 138kV transmission line owned by Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) located 1.5 miles away. Interconnecting to this line for a ≤5MW project would be economically infeasible due to the high cost of a new substation and extensive line extension.

Recommended Interconnection: The only viable path for a project of this scale is to interconnect with a local ComEd distribution feeder, likely at 12.47kV or 34.5kV. A detailed desktop review and site visit are required to identify three-phase overhead or underground distribution lines along Renaissance Drive or S. Dee Road. The capacity of these local feeders is a complete unknown. Requires Verification.

Estimated Costs & Timeline: Without an identified Point of Interconnection (POI), costs are highly speculative. A best-case scenario (tapping an adjacent feeder with available capacity) might be in the $500k - $1M range. A worst-case scenario (requiring a new dedicated feeder or significant upgrades) could easily exceed $2M - $3M. The ComEd interconnection process in Illinois is known to