⚡ 1056 ABERDEEN RD

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access: The subject property, located at 1056 Aberdeen Rd, appears to have direct frontage on a two-lane, paved residential street. Based on satellite imagery, Aberdeen Road connects to larger local thoroughfares, which should provide adequate access from regional highways for personnel and standard construction vehicles.

Equipment Delivery Feasibility: The primary concern is the suitability of a residential street for the delivery of heavy and oversized equipment. This includes multi-ton battery containers, a power conversion system (PCS) skid, and a main power transformer. A detailed route survey is required to assess potential constraints such as:

• Road Weight Limits: Local residential roads may not be rated for the gross vehicle weight of a crane and a fully loaded tractor-trailer carrying a transformer.
• Turning Radii: Maneuvering long vehicles from main roads onto Aberdeen Rd and then into the site could be challenging.
• Overhead Obstructions: Low-hanging utility lines or tree canopies along the access route could impede transport.
• Community Impact: Significant construction traffic, road closures, and noise on a quiet residential street will likely generate community complaints and require a comprehensive traffic management plan approved by the Village of Inverness.

Terrain & Easements: The topography in this region of Cook County is generally flat, which is highly advantageous for BESS development as it minimizes civil engineering and grading costs. The 3.28-acre parcel appears to be undeveloped land, likely wooded or grassland. A formal survey is necessary to confirm the absence of any access easements, right-of-way encumbrances, or shared driveways that could restrict development. At present, direct access from Aberdeen Rd seems feasible, but this requires verification.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is listed as Unknown. This is a critical data gap and a primary diligence item. A desktop review using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center must be conducted immediately. If the site is within a Special Flood Hazard Area (e.g., Zone A, AE), development costs will increase significantly due to the need for elevated foundations and potential mitigation measures. A location in Zone X (low-to-moderate risk) is strongly preferred.

Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is also Unknown. A National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) screening is the first step. Given the undeveloped nature of the parcel in a suburban area, the presence of jurisdictional wetlands is a moderate possibility. If the NWI screening indicates potential wetlands, a formal wetland delineation will be required. Any identified wetlands will necessitate design modifications to accommodate required setbacks (typically 50-100 feet), reducing the buildable area.

Habitat & Species: The data indicates no critical habitat or protected areas on or immediately adjacent to the site, which is a significant positive, lowering the risk of project delays or costly mitigation related to the Endangered Species Act. A standard Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) will still be required to formalize this finding.

Site Contamination: The property is not listed as a brownfield or superfund site, nor are there any within a 2-mile radius. While this eliminates risks associated with remediation, it also means the project is not eligible for the 10% IRA brownfield tax credit adder.

Other Constraints: The site is not in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. The absence of pipelines within a 3-mile radius is a major safety and design advantage, removing concerns related to explosion risk and associated setbacks.

3. Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Substation & Transmission: The nearest grid infrastructure identified is a 138kV transmission line operated by Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), located approximately 0.6 miles from the site. This is a high-voltage line suitable for utility-scale generation, but interconnection at this voltage level is exceptionally expensive (typically $3M - $10M+) and complex for a distribution-scale (≤5MW) BESS project. The location and capacity of the nearest distribution substation is a critical unknown. Identifying a nearby ComEd distribution substation (e.g., 12.47kV or 34.5kV class) is paramount to project viability.