⚡ OAK HILLS DR

MEMORANDUM

TO: Sunland America Corp. Development Team

FROM: Senior BESS Site Evaluation Analyst

DATE: October 26, 2023

SUBJECT: Comprehensive Site Diligence Analysis for APN H_422, OAK HILLS DR, Barre, MA

This report provides a comprehensive due diligence analysis for the 2.42-acre parcel located on Oak Hills Dr in Barre, Worcester County, MA (APN H_422) for its potential as a distribution-scale (≤5MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. The analysis covers site access, environmental constraints, grid infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, incentive potential, and key risks, culminating in a suitability score and a final recommendation.

1. Site Access & Topography

Road Access: The property is located on Oak Hills Drive. A preliminary desktop review suggests this is a local, secondary road, potentially unpaved or with minimal width and no shoulders. This presents a significant logistical challenge for the delivery of oversized and overweight BESS equipment.

Equipment Delivery Feasibility: Access for heavy equipment is a major concern. The delivery of multi-ton battery containers, a main power transformer, and switchgear requires roads capable of supporting 80,000-lb semi-trucks with wide turning radii. The use of large cranes for equipment placement would also be constrained by narrow access. A physical site visit and a formal logistics study are required to confirm if access is at all feasible.

Topography: The site is in Worcester County, a region characterized by rolling hills. It is highly probable that the 2.42-acre parcel is not flat. Significant grading and civil work may be required to create a level pad for the BESS equipment, increasing site preparation costs and potentially triggering more stringent stormwater management regulations. A topographic survey is essential.

Easement Concerns: While direct access to the parcel may be from the public right-of-way of Oak Hills Dr, the required 1.2-mile interconnection route to the nearest substation will cross multiple parcels. This will necessitate negotiating and acquiring potentially numerous private easements, a time-consuming and costly process with no guarantee of success.

2. Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA flood zone designation is currently unknown. This is a critical data gap. If any portion of the buildable area falls within a 100-year floodplain (e.g., Zone A or AE), it could render the site undevelopable or require all equipment to be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation, adding substantial cost.

Wetlands: The presence of wetlands is unknown but highly likely in this region of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) and local Barre conservation bylaws impose strict regulations, often including 100-foot buffer zones from wetland resource areas where development is heavily restricted. On a small 2.42-acre parcel, the presence of even a small wetland feature could eliminate the required buildable area for a 5MW project.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The initial screening shows no designated critical habitat or protected areas on site, which is a positive finding. However, a formal review of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's IPaC tool and the MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) database is still a required diligence step to confirm no state or federally listed species or their habitats are present.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The parcel itself is not a listed brownfield. However, the presence of two listed sites