⚡ 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 60068

This report provides a comprehensive due diligence analysis for the potential acquisition and development of a distribution-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the subject property in Park Ridge, Cook County, Illinois. The analysis identifies significant potential in the form of federal incentives but flags critical unknowns related to grid interconnection and local permitting that must be resolved before committing further capital.

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Feasibility: The property benefits from excellent public road access via Renaissance Drive, located within a well-developed commercial office park. The roads are paved, wide, and appear to be constructed to a standard capable of handling commercial truck traffic, including standard semi-trailers. This is a significant advantage for the delivery of BESS containers, transformers, and switchgear.

Terrain Characteristics: As is typical for Cook County, the site is expected to be exceptionally flat. A preliminary review of satellite imagery confirms this, showing a graded, developed parcel. This minimizes the need for extensive civil work and grading, reducing site preparation costs and timelines. The primary buildable area appears to be the existing surface parking lot, which is already level.

Heavy Equipment Access: Direct access for heavy equipment, such as a 100-ton crane for setting transformers and inverters, appears feasible from Renaissance Drive. However, a detailed logistics plan is required. A key verification step is to assess the turning radii within the office park and confirm there are no low-hanging overhead utility lines or restrictive weight limits on local access roads that could impede delivery of overweight/oversized loads.

Easement Concerns: The property is part of a larger office park, making it highly probable that multiple utility, access, and drainage easements encumber the parcel. These could significantly constrain the final BESS layout. A preliminary title report must be ordered immediately to identify all recorded easements.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is currently Unknown. This represents a critical data gap. If the site is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (e.g., Zone A or AE), development costs will increase substantially due to requirements for elevating all equipment above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). In a worst-case scenario, it could render the project uninsurable or infeasible. Action: Immediately screen the address using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is Unknown. While a developed office park is less likely to contain jurisdictional wetlands, adjacent drainage features or undeveloped portions of the larger 35-acre area could be impacted. Any wetlands would trigger significant state (IEPA) and federal (USACE) permitting requirements and mandatory setbacks (typically 50-100 feet), which would reduce the buildable area. Action: Conduct a desktop review using the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) mapper, followed by a formal wetland delineation if any risk is identified.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The data indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or near the site. This is a positive finding that significantly de-risks the project from a federal Endangered Species Act perspective.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The property itself is not identified as a brownfield. While a superfund site exists within two miles, it is not close enough to confer risk or advantage. Crucially, this means the project is not eligible for the 10% IRA Brownfield ITC adder unless a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) identifies recognized environmental conditions on our specific parcel. The current status is a neutral factor, not an advantage.

Pipeline Proximity: The absence of major gas transmission pipelines within a three-mile radius is a significant safety and permitting benefit, eliminating the need for complex pipeline setback analyses and consultations.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Nearest Substation & Feeder: This is the most significant unknown and the highest-risk item for the project. Data on the nearest distribution substation (distance, voltage, capacity) is missing. Given the dense commercial setting, it is highly probable that a 3-phase distribution feeder (likely 12.47kV or 34.5kV, common for Commonwealth Edison) is located on-site or along Renaissance Drive. However, its available capacity for a 5MW injection is entirely unknown. This is a potential fatal flaw; identifying the Point of Interconnection (POI) is the top priority.

Transmission Infrastructure: A 138kV transmission line is located 1.5 miles away. For a distribution-scale (≤5MW) project, this is not a viable POI. The cost to build a 1.5-mile