⚡ 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 property benefits from excellent public road access via Renaissance Drive. Based on aerial imagery, this road is part of a modern office park and appears to be wide, well-paved, and designed to accommodate commercial truck traffic. Its proximity to major highways (I-294 is immediately adjacent) is a significant logistical advantage for both construction and operations.

Terrain Characteristics: The site is located in Cook County, Illinois, an area known for its extremely flat topography. We can expect minimal to no grade change across the parcel, which dramatically simplifies civil engineering, reduces site preparation costs, and eliminates concerns about complex foundations for battery containers and power conversion systems (PCS).

Heavy Equipment Access: Access for heavy equipment, including flatbed trucks for BESS containers, large cranes for setting transformers, and concrete trucks, appears to be straightforward. The existing road network is robust. A detailed route survey would be required to confirm bridge weight limits and turning radii, but this is considered a very low-risk item.

Easement Concerns: A significant unknown is the presence of existing easements. As part of a developed office park, it is highly probable that utility easements (power, water, sewer, communications) and potentially access or drainage easements already encumber the parcel. Action Item: A full title report and ALTA survey are required to identify any easements that would constrain the buildable area. There is also a major discrepancy in the listed acreage (35.02 vs 2.97 acres) which must be resolved immediately via a title search and review of the official plat map.

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 parcel is located in Zone X, an area of minimal flood hazard. While this is positive, it Requires Verification through a formal report. Siting critical infrastructure outside of a 100-year or 500-year floodplain is a critical de-risking step.

Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is "Unknown." A preliminary screen using the USFWS National Wetlands Inventory mapper does not indicate jurisdictional wetlands directly on the parcel, but nearby water bodies exist. A formal wetlands delineation will be required to confirm the absence of wetlands and avoid significant permitting delays and buffer requirements under the Clean Water Act.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The data indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or immediately adjacent to the site. This significantly lowers the risk of encountering issues related to the Endangered Species Act, which can be a major source of project delays.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: There is one Superfund site noted within a two-mile radius. This does not mean the subject property is a brownfield. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is mandatory to (a) confirm the subject site is clean and (b) ensure no contamination has migrated from the nearby site. Crucially, this site is not currently eligible for the 10% IRA brownfield tax credit adder, as that requires the site itself to be a qualified brownfield.

Pipeline Proximity: No major gas transmission pipelines are identified within a three-mile radius, mitigating risks associated with pipeline-related setbacks, safety protocols, and potential co-location conflicts.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Nearest Substation & Feeder: This is the most critical data gap in the analysis. The nearest substation, its distance, and available capacity are all unknown. For a distribution-scale project (≤5MW), a direct connection to a local substation or, more likely, an interconnection to a 3-phase distribution feeder is the only economically viable path. The local utility is Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). Their distribution voltages in this area are typically 12.47kV or 34.5kV. Identifying a feeder with sufficient thermal and voltage capacity is the single most important feasibility item.

Transmission Infrastructure: A 138kV transmission line is located 1.5 miles from the site.