⚡ 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)

This report provides a comprehensive due diligence analysis for a potential Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project at the subject property. The analysis evaluates the site's suitability based on key development criteria, including physical characteristics, grid access, environmental constraints, regulatory landscape, and financial incentives.

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Equipment Delivery: The site benefits from excellent public road access via Renaissance Drive, situated within a modern commercial office park. Based on satellite imagery review, the roads are paved, well-maintained, and appear sufficiently wide to accommodate standard and heavy-haul trucks required for delivering BESS containers, transformers, and switchgear. The proximity to major thoroughfares like I-294 is a logistical advantage for construction.

Terrain & Buildability: The property is located in Park Ridge, a suburb of Chicago, an area known for its exceptionally flat topography. We can assume the site is level or near-level, which will significantly reduce civil engineering and site preparation costs. The primary buildability concern is not topography but the existing land use as a multi-story office building and associated parking lots. There is a significant data discrepancy regarding parcel size (35.02 acres vs. 2.97 acres from Regrid). This must be clarified immediately, as 2.97 acres is sufficient for a 5MW BESS, but the exact buildable envelope within that footprint is unknown. The project would likely involve developing a portion of the existing surface parking lot.

Heavy Equipment & Easements: Access for cranes and delivery vehicles appears feasible. However, a formal logistics plan and route survey are necessary. A critical unknown is the presence of existing utility easements. Given the developed nature of the site, underground utilities (power, water, sewer, fiber) are almost certain to be present. A title report and ALTA survey are mandatory to identify these easements, as they can severely restrict the placement of BESS equipment and foundations.

2. Environmental Constraints

Flood & Wetlands: FEMA flood zone and wetlands status are both listed as Unknown. This represents a significant data gap. A desktop review using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) must be conducted immediately. If the site falls within a Special Flood Hazard Area (e.g., Zone AE), development costs will increase due to the need for elevated foundations and potential for project in-feasibility. Similarly, the presence of jurisdictional wetlands would trigger setback requirements (typically 50-100 ft) and could constrain the project footprint.

Habitat & Protected Species: The data indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or near the site. Given its location in a developed suburban office park, the risk of encountering endangered species that would halt development is considered very low. A preliminary check of the USFWS IPaC tool is still recommended as a standard diligence step.

Contamination & Brownfield Status: While there is a Superfund site within two miles, the subject property itself is not listed. The current use as an office building suggests a low probability of significant contamination. However, this presents a potential opportunity. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) should be commissioned to determine if any historical use could qualify the site as a "brownfield" under IRA guidelines. If it qualifies, the project would be eligible for a 10% ITC bonus adder, which would be a major economic benefit. Without this qualification, the proximity to other contaminated sites is a minor risk to be monitored.

Other Considerations: The site is not in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. The absence of oil/gas wells or major pipelines within a 3-mile radius is a significant safety and permitting advantage, eliminating the need for specialized risk assessments and setbacks associated with such infrastructure.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Substation & Feasibility: The location and capacity of the nearest distribution substation are Unknown. This is the most critical information gap for the project. Without a viable Point of Interconnection (POI), the site is not feasible. The first priority is to identify nearby ComEd distribution substations and 3-phase feeders. Satellite imagery suggests the presence of overhead distribution lines along nearby roads, but their voltage and available capacity are unknown.

Transmission Access: A 138kV Commonwealth Edison transmission line is located 1.5 miles from the site. For a distribution-scale project (≤5MW), interconnecting at transmission voltage over this distance would be prohibitively expensive (likely >$5-10M) and is not a viable option. This line should only be considered if the project scope were to scale dramatically to 50MW+.

Recommended Interconnection: The only feasible path for this project is a distribution-level interconnection to a local ComEd feeder, likely at 12.47kV or 34.5kV. The project's viability is entirely dependent on the proximity, voltage, and available hosting capacity of such a feeder.

Cost & Timeline Estimate: Inter