⚡ 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 1480 Renaissance Dr, Park Ridge, IL (APN: 09221100050000)

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Equipment Delivery: The site is located at 1480 Renaissance Drive in a developed commercial/office park in Park Ridge, IL. Access is listed as "Public," which is favorable. Proximity to major thoroughfares, including Interstate 294, suggests that standard construction vehicles and delivery trucks can reach the area with ease. The local roads within the office park appear to be well-maintained, paved, and designed for commercial traffic. However, a formal route survey is required to confirm that the turning radii and load limits of local roads can accommodate oversized and overweight deliveries, such as a main power transformer (MPT) and 40-foot battery containers on a flatbed truck.

Terrain & Site Characteristics: As is typical for Cook County, Illinois, the topography is expected to be exceptionally flat. This is a significant advantage, as it will minimize the need for extensive civil work and grading, thereby reducing site preparation costs and timelines. The parcel itself appears to be part of a larger, developed office complex. The Regrid data indicates a parcel size of 2.97 acres, not 35, which suggests the BESS would be a co-located use on an existing commercial lot.

Access Easement Concerns: Since the project would likely occupy only a portion of the existing parcel owned by IMPERIAL REALTY CO, a dedicated and permanent access easement from Renaissance Drive to the BESS facility footprint must be secured. This easement needs to be sufficiently wide for construction and ongoing operational access and must be formally recorded. Negotiations with the landowner will be critical to ensure this access is not encumbered by the existing office building's operations.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone & Wetlands: The FEMA flood zone and wetlands status are both listed as "Unknown." These are critical data gaps representing a potential fatal flaw. Immediate verification is required. A desktop review using the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) is the first step. If the site is within a 100-year floodplain (e.g., Zone AE), development costs will increase substantially due to the need to elevate all equipment above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and some jurisdictions may prohibit critical infrastructure in such zones. The presence of delineated wetlands would trigger significant setback requirements (typically 50-100 feet) and reduce the buildable area, potentially making a 5MW project infeasible.

Habitat & Protected Species: The data indicates no critical habitats or protected areas on or near the site, which is a positive finding consistent with a developed commercial area. A standard review using the USFWS IPaC (Information for Planning and Consultation) tool should still be conducted to formally document the absence of federally listed endangered or threatened species.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The presence of a superfund site within two miles, but not on the parcel itself, is noteworthy. This does not pose a direct cleanup liability risk. More importantly, it raises the possibility that the project parcel could qualify for the 10% IRA Brownfield ITC adder. To qualify, the site must meet the federal definition of a brownfield, which includes properties where redevelopment is complicated by the potential presence of a contaminant. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is required to investigate the historical use of the property and determine if it meets this definition. This represents a potential financial upside.

Other Constraints: The site is not in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. The absence of pipelines within a three-mile radius is a significant safety and design advantage, eliminating concerns about pipeline-related setbacks and explosion risks.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Substation & Transmission Infrastructure: This section contains the most significant data gaps and highest project risk. The nearest substation, its distance, and its voltage class are all unknown. A 138kV transmission line owned by Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) is located 1.5 miles away. For a distribution-scale project (≤5MW), a transmission-level interconnection at 138kV is financially and technically infeasible due to the high cost of a new substation bay and the long distance.

Recommended Interconnection Strategy: The only viable path for this project is a distribution-level interconnection to a local ComEd feeder, likely at 12.47kV or 34.5kV. The top priority is to identify