⚡ 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 "Project O'Hare"

Property: 1480 RENAISSANCE DR, Park Ridge, Cook County, IL (APN: 09221100050000)

This report provides a comprehensive due diligence analysis for the property located at 1480 Renaissance Drive in Park Ridge, Illinois, for the potential development of a distribution-scale (≤5MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The analysis covers key site attributes, constraints, risks, and opportunities to inform a go/no-go decision.

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access & Equipment Delivery: The site exhibits excellent logistical characteristics. It is located in a well-developed commercial office park with direct access from Renaissance Drive, a paved, public road. The property is less than a mile from major arterial roads (Higgins Rd, S. Dee Rd) and Interstate 294, providing superb access for all phases of construction and operation. The existing road network is wide and appears capable of handling oversized and overweight loads associated with BESS equipment, such as multi-ton transformers, switchgear, and containerized battery systems.

Terrain & Buildability: Based on aerial imagery and regional geographic data, the site is exceptionally flat, consistent with the topography of the greater Chicago area. The target development area appears to be the existing surface parking lot of a multi-story office building. This presents a significant advantage, as it is already graded, stable, and cleared, drastically reducing civil engineering costs and site preparation timelines. The 2.97-acre parcel size offers ample space for a 5MW/20MWh BESS footprint, including required electrical balance-of-plant, safety access lanes, and perimeter fencing.

Easement Concerns: As a developed commercial property, it is highly probable that existing utility easements (electric, water, sewer, communications) cross the parcel. A full ALTA survey and title report are required to identify the location and nature of any easements that could conflict with the proposed BESS layout and intra-site cabling. The primary concern would be an easement that bisects the most logical construction area.

2. Environmental Constraints

Flood & Wetlands: The FEMA flood zone status is currently listed as "Unknown." A preliminary desktop review using the FEMA Map Service Center suggests the property is located in Zone X, an area of minimal flood hazard. This is highly favorable but Requires Verification with a formal flood zone determination. Similarly, the wetlands status is "Unknown." Given the site's long history of commercial development (paved lot), the presence of jurisdictional wetlands is unlikely. However, a desktop screening using the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) mapper followed by a formal wetland delineation will be necessary to confirm no regulated features exist, particularly in any on-site drainage swales.

Habitat & Protected Species: The data indicates no critical habitats or protected areas on or near the site. The highly disturbed, urbanized nature of the parcel makes the presence of endangered species extremely low risk. A standard desktop review should suffice to document this for permitting.

Contamination & Brownfield Status: Data shows one Brownfield/Superfund site within a two-mile radius. This presents both a risk and a significant opportunity. The risk is potential soil or groundwater contamination migrating from the nearby site, which must be assessed via a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). The opportunity is the potential to qualify for the 10% IRA Brownfield ITC adder. The IRA has a broad definition that may allow a non-contaminated site to qualify if it is located within a designated brownfield area. This requires specialized legal and environmental analysis but could be a major economic driver for the project.

Other Constraints: The site is not within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. There are no known pipelines or gas wells in the immediate vicinity, which eliminates significant safety