⚡ 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 "Project O'Hare" (1480 Renaissance Dr, Park Ridge, IL)

This report provides a comprehensive initial diligence analysis for the property located at 1480 Renaissance Dr, Park Ridge, IL (APN: 09221100050000) for its suitability as a distribution-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. The analysis identifies significant potential due to valuable federal incentives but flags critical risks related to grid interconnection and local permitting that must be addressed immediately.

1. Site Access & Topography

• Road Access & Feasibility: The site has excellent access. It is located in a suburban office park directly fronting Renaissance Drive, a paved public road. The property is less than a mile from major arterial roads (S. Cumberland Ave) and interstate highways (I-294), which is ideal for minimizing transport complexity and cost.
• Terrain Characteristics: As is typical for the Chicagoland area, the site is presumed to be flat and level, likely graded as part of the original office park development. This significantly reduces earthwork and civil engineering costs compared to a site with challenging topography. Requires verification via a site visit and topographical survey.
• Heavy Equipment Access: The existing high-quality road network appears fully capable of supporting the delivery of heavy equipment, including mobile cranes, transformers, and prefabricated battery enclosures. A final route survey would be required to confirm the absence of any low-clearance overpasses or local road weight restrictions.
• Easement Concerns: As a developed commercial parcel, the property is almost certainly encumbered by existing utility easements (power, water, sewer, communications). A title report and ALTA survey are mandatory to identify these easements, as they may constrain the final BESS layout and buildable area. No access easements are anticipated as the property has direct public road frontage.

2. Environmental Constraints

• FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is currently Unknown. This is a critical data gap. The site is located approximately 1.5 miles east of the Des Plaines River, elevating the potential for flood risk. Siting critical infrastructure in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) would trigger significant design, insurance, and permitting challenges, potentially rendering the site unviable.
• Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is Unknown. A desktop screening using the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) is an immediate next step. Any identified wetlands would necessitate a formal delineation and impose significant setbacks (typically 50-100 feet), reducing the buildable acreage.
• Critical Habitat / Species Risk: The initial screening indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or immediately adjacent to the site. This is a positive finding, reducing the risk of project delays or costly mitigation measures related to the Endangered Species Act. A formal USFWS IPaC report should still be generated for the project file.
• Brownfield/Superfund Status: There is one Superfund site noted within a two-mile radius, but not on the subject parcel. This indicates a history of industrial activity in the vicinity. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is non-negotiable. However, this presents a potential opportunity: if the Phase I ESA identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) and a subsequent Phase II confirms contamination, the site could formally qualify as a "brownfield," making the project eligible for the 10% IRA brownfield tax credit adder.
• Pipeline Proximity: No major gas transmission pipelines are identified within a three-mile radius, which is a significant safety and risk-mitigation advantage. This removes concerns related to pipeline operator-mandated setbacks and explosion risk analysis.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

• Nearest Substation: This is the most critical unknown. Data on the nearest distribution substation (distance, voltage, available capacity) is missing. Identifying a