⚡ 332 MCNAY RIDGE RD

Site Access & Topography

The property benefits from Public Road Access via McNay Ridge Road. While public access is generally favorable, the quality and load-bearing capacity of McNay Ridge Road will require immediate verification. Given the rural context of Greene County, it is likely a secondary road that may necessitate upgrades to accommodate the frequent heavy equipment traffic associated with BESS construction, including the delivery of transformers, battery containers, and other large components. The "POI Onsite" (Point of Interconnection) access is a positive, indicating direct access to the potential interconnection point, which can reduce off-site civil works.

However, the property's Buildability is rated as Poor, with only 1.17 Buildable Acres out of a total of 164.98 acres. This is a significant red flag. The name "McNay Ridge Rd" suggests a location on or near a ridge, implying potentially steep slopes, varied elevation, and challenging terrain. Such topography would severely limit the usable area for a BESS, increase site preparation costs (grading, retaining walls), and complicate heavy equipment maneuvering and foundation work. The limited buildable area also restricts the potential project size and layout flexibility.

Assessment for Heavy Equipment Access: While public road access exists, the "Poor" buildability and likely challenging terrain within the property itself suggest that significant civil engineering and site preparation will be required to create a level, stable pad for BESS components. This will likely involve extensive cut-and-fill operations, potentially rock blasting, and the construction of robust access roads within the site.

Access Easement Concerns: No access easement concerns are noted in the provided data. However, a full title search will be necessary to confirm clear access rights and identify any existing easements (e.g., for utilities, pipelines, or neighboring properties) that might encumber the buildable area.

Environmental Constraints

FEMA Flood Zone: The FEMA Flood Zone is Unknown. This is a critical data gap. A BESS cannot be sited within a floodway, and siting within a 100-year floodplain (A or AE zones) would necessitate elevated equipment, flood-resistant construction, and potentially higher insurance premiums, significantly increasing project costs and complexity. This requires immediate investigation.

Wetlands: The presence of Wetlands is Unknown. This is another major environmental unknown. Wetlands are federally and state-protected areas that require extensive permitting (e.g., US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404, Pennsylvania DEP permits) for any disturbance. Setback requirements from wetlands can further reduce the already limited 1.17 buildable acres, potentially rendering the site unviable. A comprehensive wetland delineation will be required.

Critical Habitat / Endangered Species: The data indicates None for critical habitat. This is a positive finding, as it reduces the risk of lengthy environmental reviews and potential project delays or mitigation requirements related to protected species.

Brownfield/Superfund Status: The property is noted as having None within ~2 miles for Brownfield/Superfund sites. This is generally positive as it avoids the risks and liabilities associated with contaminated land. However, it also means the project would not qualify for the IRA Brownfield ITC bonus adder, which could have provided an additional 10% ITC.

Chesapeake Bay Critical Area: The data confirms N/A (non-MD), meaning the property is not within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, thus avoiding specific, stringent environmental regulations applicable to that region.

Pipeline Proximity: There are None within ~3 miles. This is a significant positive, as it eliminates major safety concerns, setback requirements, and potential permitting complexities associated with siting a BESS near high-pressure gas or hazardous liquid pipelines. Similarly, Gas Wells Nearby: None within ~2 miles is also a positive for safety and operational considerations.

Grid Infrastructure & Interconnection

Nearest Substation: The data for the nearest substation is Unknown (Distance: -, Max Voltage: - kV). This is the single most critical missing piece of information and represents a fundamental flaw in the current site assessment. Without knowing the distance to a viable substation, its voltage class, and its available capacity, it is impossible to determine the feasibility or cost-effectiveness of interconnection.

Nearest Transmission Line: The data states None within ~3 miles. This further exacerbates the grid access challenge. If there is no transmission line within 3 miles, and the nearest substation is unknown (and potentially far), the cost of new line extensions could be prohibitive.

Interconnecting Utility: The utility is identified as West Penn (a FirstEnergy company). West Penn has a structured interconnection process, but queue times can be lengthy, especially for projects requiring significant system upgrades.

Recommended Interconnection Voltage: Given the target project size of ≤5MW, a distribution-level interconnection (e.g.,