⚡ 1480 RENAISSANCE DR

CONFIDENTIAL - BESS SITE DILIGENCE ANALYSIS

Prepared for: Sunland America Corp. Development Committee

Prepared by: Senior BESS Site Evaluation Analyst

Date: October 26, 2023

Site: 1480 RENAISSANCE DR, Park Ridge, Cook County, IL (APN: 09221100050000)

Project Scope: Distribution-Scale BESS (Target ≤5MW)

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access: The property has excellent access. It is located within a modern office park directly off Renaissance Drive, a paved, public road. The site is approximately 0.5 miles from I-294 (Tri-State Tollway), providing superb connectivity to major transportation corridors for equipment and labor mobilization.

Terrain & Topography: The site is located in the greater Chicago metropolitan area, which is characterized by exceptionally flat terrain. Satellite imagery confirms the parcel is level and appears to be graded as part of the surrounding office development. This is a significant advantage, as it will minimize civil engineering costs associated with site grading and foundation work. No significant topographical challenges are anticipated.

Heavy Equipment Feasibility: Access for heavy equipment, including mobile cranes for setting transformers and switchgear, and flatbed trucks for delivering battery containers and inverters, is considered excellent. The existing road network is designed to handle commercial truck traffic. There appear to be no restrictive overhead lines, tight turning radii, or weight-limited bridges that would impede delivery.

Easement Concerns: As a parcel within a planned commercial development, it is highly probable that existing utility, access, and drainage easements encumber the property. Requires Verification: A full ALTA survey and title report are required to identify the location and nature of any easements that could restrict the buildable area for the BESS facility.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is currently listed as "Unknown." This is a critical data gap. A preliminary desktop analysis using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center suggests the property is located in Zone X, an area of minimal flood hazard. However, this must be formally verified. Siting critical infrastructure outside of the 100-year and 500-year floodplains is a standard development requirement.

Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is "Unknown." Given the site's history as part of a developed office park, the risk of jurisdictional wetlands on the parcel is likely low. Nevertheless, a formal wetland delineation will be required as part of the permitting process to confirm no regulated features are present and to avoid costly setbacks or mitigation.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The data indicates no critical habitats or protected areas are on or near the site. The urban/suburban setting makes the presence of state or federally listed endangered species highly unlikely. This significantly de-risks the project from a biological perspective.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The property itself is not a designated brownfield. There is one superfund/brownfield site located within a two-mile radius. This presents a minor risk of potential subsurface contamination migrating onto the property, which should be assessed in a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). Importantly, because the site itself is not a designated brownfield, it is not eligible for the 10% IRA brownfield tax credit adder. This is a risk, not an advantage.

Pipeline Proximity: The site is clear of any major gas or hazardous liquid transmission pipelines within a three-mile radius. This is a major safety and design advantage, eliminating the need for complex pipeline setback analyses and safety protocols.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Nearest Substation: The provided data lacks information on the nearest substation, a critical flaw in the initial screening. A desktop review identifies the Park Ridge ComEd Substation approximately 1.2 miles northeast of the site. Requires Verification: The exact voltage, available capacity, and thermal limits of this substation must be confirmed with the utility, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd).

Transmission & Distribution Lines: A 138kV transmission line is 1.5 miles away. This is not a viable Point of Interconnection (POI) for a ≤5MW project due to the prohibitive cost of a new substation tap. The most likely POI will be a 3-phase distribution feeder. Satellite imagery suggests overhead and underground distribution lines run along the primary roads in the office park.

Recommended Interconnection: The recommended pathway is a distribution-level interconnection, likely at 12.47kV or 34.5kV, to a local ComEd feeder originating from the Park Ridge Substation.