⚡ 1480 RENAISSANCE DR

TO: Sunland America Corp. Development Committee

FROM: Senior BESS Site Evaluation Analyst

DATE: October 26, 2023

SUBJECT: Comprehensive Site Diligence Analysis for 1480 Renaissance Dr, Park Ridge, IL (APN: 09221100050000)

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Feasibility: The subject property is located within a suburban office park in Park Ridge, IL. Primary access is via Renaissance Drive, which connects to major thoroughfares like I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) and Touhy Avenue. These are well-maintained, paved, multi-lane roads capable of supporting heavy truck traffic. Initial review of aerial imagery confirms wide-radius turns and established infrastructure, suggesting that delivery of large equipment, including battery containers, transformers, and cranes, is highly feasible from a logistical standpoint.

Terrain & Topography: The site is situated in Cook County, Illinois, an area characterized by extremely flat topography with minimal grade changes. This is highly advantageous for BESS development, as it will significantly reduce the need for extensive civil work, grading, and site preparation. Foundation design will be straightforward, lowering overall construction costs and timelines.

Heavy Equipment Access: Given the existing land use as a multi-story office building, the site and surrounding road network were designed to accommodate large delivery vehicles and construction equipment. There appear to be no immediate physical barriers such as low-clearance bridges or restrictive weight-limit roads that would impede access for BESS component delivery.

Easement Concerns: Requires Verification. As an established commercial property, the site is almost certainly encumbered by existing utility easements (power, water, sewer, communications) and potentially access easements for neighboring properties. A full title report and ALTA survey are required to identify the location and restrictions of these easements, which could constrain the final BESS layout and buildable area.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is currently unknown. This is a critical data gap. The property is located approximately 1.5 miles east of the Des Plaines River, which elevates the risk of being within a designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), likely Zone A or AE. Development within an SFHA would require significant mitigation, such as elevating all equipment above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), which adds substantial cost and complexity. A FEMA FIRMette review is an immediate next step.

Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is unknown. A desktop review of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) is required. Given the proximity to the river, there is a moderate risk of jurisdictional wetlands on or adjacent to the property, which would trigger significant setback requirements (typically 50-100 feet) and potentially require a costly and time-consuming delineation and permitting process under the Clean Water Act.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The initial screen shows no designated critical habitat on the parcel, which is a positive finding. A review using the USFWS IPaC tool should be conducted to confirm the potential presence of any threatened or endangered species in the project vicinity, though the risk is considered low due to the site's developed, urbanized nature.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The property itself is not listed as a brownfield, but there is one known site within a 2-mile radius. This presents a low risk of contaminant migration but should be assessed in a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). More importantly, the site's current use as a commercial property could potentially qualify it as a "brownfield site" under the specific definition for the IRA's 10% ITC bonus adder if it meets certain criteria (e.g., being underutilized or abandoned). This represents a potential financial upside that warrants further investigation.

Pipeline Proximity: No gas transmission pipelines are located within a 3-mile radius. This is a significant safety and layout advantage, as it eliminates concerns regarding pipeline setbacks, explosion risks, and coordination with pipeline operators.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Nearest Substation & Feeder: Requires Verification. This is the most critical unknown for the project's viability. The nearest substation, its available capacity, and the feeder voltage are not identified. A desktop analysis using utility maps and satellite imagery is the highest priority. The project's feasibility is entirely dependent on the proximity and capacity of a suitable Point of Interconnection (POI).

Transmission Proximity: A 138kV Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) transmission line is located 1.5 miles away. For a distribution-scale project (≤5MW), interconnecting at transmission voltage is financially and technically infeasible due to the high cost of building a dedicated substation and 1.5 miles of tie-line. This transmission line should be considered unavailable for this project.

Recommended Interconnection: The only viable path is interconnection to a local ComEd distribution feeder. The likely voltage will be 12.47kV or 34.5kV. The project must be sited adjacent to a 3-phase line with sufficient thermal and hosting capacity.

Cost & Timeline Estimate: Without a known POI, costs are highly speculative. A best-case scenario (interconnection directly to an adjacent overhead line with capacity) might be in the $500k - $1M range. A worst-case scenario (requiring a dedicated feeder run of 0.5+ miles or significant substation upgrades) could easily exceed $2M - $3M. The ComEd interconnection process in Illinois is notoriously slow; a realistic timeline from application submission to commercial operation is 24-36 months.

Utility & Queue: The interconnecting utility is Commonwealth Edison. Their interconnection queue is known to be congested, and their study process is rigorous. Early engagement via a pre-application report is essential to gain insight into grid constraints.

4. Regulatory & Zoning Analysis