⚡ 1480 RENAISSANCE DR

MEMORANDUM

TO: Sunland America Corp. Investment Committee

FROM: Senior BESS Site Evaluation Analyst

DATE: October 26, 2023

SUBJECT: Comprehensive Site Diligence Analysis for "Project Ridge"

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

1. Site Access & Topography

The subject property benefits from excellent logistical access. It is located in a well-developed commercial office park with direct frontage on Renaissance Drive, a public road. This road connects to major arterial routes, including West Higgins Road, and is situated less than a mile from Interstate 294. This proximity to major transportation corridors is highly favorable for the delivery of oversized and overweight equipment, such as transformers, inverters, and containerized battery systems.

Based on regional geographic data and satellite imagery review, the topography of the site and surrounding area is expected to be nearly flat, which is characteristic of the Chicagoland region. This significantly reduces the need for extensive civil work and grading, lowering potential site preparation costs. The existing road network within the office park appears robust and capable of handling heavy truck traffic. However, a formal route survey is recommended to confirm turning radii, bridge weight limits, and overhead line clearances for specialized transport. A critical unknown is the presence of any access easements. A full title report is required to determine if any easements cross the potential project area, which could restrict the buildable envelope or dictate equipment placement.

2. Environmental Constraints

The environmental profile of this site presents several critical unknowns that must be addressed immediately.

• FEMA Flood Zone: The flood zone designation is currently Unknown. This is a major risk. Any portion of the site within a 100-year floodplain (e.g., Zone AE) would necessitate elevating all equipment above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), adding significant cost and complexity. A high-priority next step is to review the effective FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for this parcel.
• Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is also Unknown. A desktop screening using the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) database is required. If potential wetlands are identified, a formal field delineation will be necessary to establish boundaries and determine required setbacks, which could severely constrain the project footprint.
• Habitat & Protected Species: The data indicates no critical habitats or protected areas on or immediately adjacent to the site, which is a positive finding. This significantly lowers the risk of project delays or costly mitigation related to the Endangered Species Act. A formal check of the USFWS IPaC database is still recommended for completeness.
• Brownfield/Superfund Status: The property is not a listed brownfield, but there is one Superfund site within a two-mile radius. The key opportunity here is the 10% ITC adder for projects sited on a brownfield. While the current office use makes it an unlikely candidate, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) should investigate historical site uses to determine if it could potentially qualify (e.g., from a previously undocumented spill). This represents a potential financial upside but requires careful investigation.
• Pipeline Proximity: The absence of major gas transmission pipelines within a three-mile radius is a significant safety and de-risking factor, eliminating concerns related to pipeline-specific setbacks and potential co-location hazards.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

The viability of this site is heavily dependent on the cost and timeline of interconnection. The provided data has significant gaps.

• Nearest Substation: While the data is missing, a desktop review identifies the ComEd Park Ridge Substation approximately 1.2 miles east of the site. This substation appears to be a major node with multiple voltage levels, likely including 138kV and a distribution bus (e.g., 12.47kV or 34.5kV). The proximity is favorable, but the available capacity is a critical unknown.
• Transmission Access: A 138kV transmission line is 1.5 miles away. For a distribution-scale project (≤5MW), a direct transmission tap at this distance would be cost-prohibitive, likely exceeding $5-10 million. Therefore, this is not a viable interconnection path.
• Recommended Interconnection: The most feasible and cost-effective point of interconnection (POI) will be a local 3-phase distribution feeder