⚡ 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 "Project Renaissance"

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

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Feasibility: The property benefits from excellent public road access, situated within a well-developed commercial office park. Renaissance Drive is a paved, multi-lane road capable of supporting heavy truck traffic. Based on satellite imagery review, access appears sufficient for the delivery of oversized and overweight loads, including BESS containers, step-up transformers, and large cranes required for installation.

Terrain & Topography: The site is located in the greater Chicago metropolitan area, which is characterized by exceptionally flat terrain. We anticipate minimal grading will be required, significantly reducing civil engineering costs and site preparation timelines. The existing development as an office park suggests the site is already graded and stable.

Heavy Equipment Access: The primary access routes from major highways (e.g., I-294) to the site are robust. The internal roads of the office park appear wide enough to accommodate low-boy trailers. A detailed route survey will be necessary prior to equipment mobilization, but no immediate fatal flaws are apparent.

Easement Concerns: As an established commercial parcel, existing utility and access easements are almost certain to be present. A full title report is required to identify any easements that could conflict with the proposed BESS equipment layout. The primary concern would be pre-existing underground utility easements (gas, water, fiber) that could sterilize significant portions of the buildable area.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is currently Unknown. This represents a critical data gap. Verification via FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) is a top priority. If the site is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (e.g., Zone AE), development costs could increase substantially due to requirements for elevating all equipment above the Base Flood Elevation, or the site could be deemed unsuitable.

Wetlands: The presence of jurisdictional wetlands is Unknown. A desktop review of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) is required immediately. Given the developed nature of the surrounding area, the risk of significant wetlands is likely low, but even small, isolated wetlands could impose prohibitive setbacks and require costly permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois EPA.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The provided data indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or immediately adjacent to the parcel. This significantly de-risks the project from a federal Endangered Species Act perspective. A standard desktop review using the USFWS IPaC tool should be conducted to confirm and document this low-risk status.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The data notes one Superfund/brownfield site within a two-mile radius. This is a potential major advantage. While it does not mean our target parcel is contaminated, it raises the possibility that this commercially-zoned land could qualify as a "brownfield site" under IRA guidelines (e.g., a site "with the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant"). A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is required to determine if the site qualifies for the 10% ITC Brownfield Adder. This is a significant financial opportunity that must be investigated.

Pipeline Proximity: No major gas transmission pipelines are identified within a three-mile radius, mitigating risks associated with high-pressure pipeline setbacks and safety protocols.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Nearest Substation & Feeder: This is the most significant and critical unknown for the project. Data on the nearest distribution substation (distance, voltage, capacity) is missing. Identifying the serving utility, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), is the first step. The project's viability is entirely dependent on the proximity and available capacity of a suitable 3-phase distribution feeder. Without a viable Point of Interconnection (POI), this site is a non-starter.

Transmission Infrastructure: A 138kV ComEd transmission line is located 1.5 miles from the site. For a distribution-scale project (≤5MW), interconnecting at transmission voltage is financially unfeasible. The cost of a 1.5-mile gen-tie line and a new substation bay would likely exceed $5-10 million, rendering the project uneconomical. Therefore, a transmission-level interconnection should be ruled out.

Recommended Interconnection: The only viable path is a distribution-level interconnection. The target