⚡ 1480 RENAISSANCE DR

MEMORANDUM

TO: Sunland America Corp. Development Committee

FROM: Senior BESS Site Evaluation Analyst

DATE: October 26, 2023

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

This report provides a comprehensive due diligence analysis for the property located at 1480 Renaissance Drive in Park Ridge, Cook County, Illinois. The site consists of a 2.98-acre developed parcel currently hosting a multi-story office building and associated surface parking. The analysis evaluates the site's suitability for a distribution-scale (≤5MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project based on key development criteria.

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Feasibility: The site exhibits excellent road access. It is located in a well-developed suburban office park just off South Cumberland Avenue, a major local arterial road, and less than a mile from the I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) interchange. Access is via paved, wide-berth commercial roads (Renaissance Drive) capable of supporting heavy truck traffic. This existing high-quality infrastructure is ideal for the delivery of heavy BESS equipment.

Terrain Characteristics: As is typical for the Chicago metropolitan area, the topography is exceptionally flat. The existing site is graded for commercial use with extensive paved parking lots. There are no topographical challenges anticipated for construction, and minimal civil work or grading would be required to prepare a pad for the BESS equipment.

Heavy Equipment Access: The property's large surface parking lot provides ample maneuvering room for cranes, flatbed trucks carrying battery containers, and other necessary construction vehicles. Access for the delivery and placement of a multi-ton medium-voltage transformer and multiple BESS enclosures is considered straightforward and low-risk.

Easement Concerns: The BESS would be sited on the private parcel. However, an access and utility easement will be required for the interconnection line running from the BESS to the Point of Interconnection (POI). The route and complexity of this easement are currently unknown and depend entirely on the location of the POI, which is a critical unknown. Securing this easement across the office park or along public rights-of-way will be a necessary step.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is listed as "Unknown." A preliminary desktop review using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center suggests the property is located in Zone X, an area of minimal flood hazard. This is a favorable initial finding, but it Requires Verification through a formal report. Siting BESS equipment outside of designated floodplains (especially 100-year and 500-year zones) is a critical requirement.

Wetlands: The presence of jurisdictional wetlands is listed as "Unknown." Given the site's developed nature as an office park with impervious surfaces, the likelihood of finding wetlands is low. However, a desktop National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) screening is a necessary next step to confirm. If any potential wetlands are identified, a formal delineation would be required, which could introduce significant setbacks and reduce buildable area.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The provided data indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or near the site. This is a low-risk category.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The data notes one Superfund site within a two-mile radius. The subject property itself is not identified as a brownfield. This proximity represents a potential environmental risk. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is mandatory to ensure no Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) exist on the parcel from current or historical use. It is important to note that the 10% IRA brownfield bonus credit would only apply if this site were formally designated as a brownfield, which does not appear to be the case. Therefore, this is currently a risk, not an advantage.

Pipeline Pro