Underwater data centers may be coming to the U.S.—smack in the middle of endangered whale habitat
DeepGreen Holdings is seeking preliminary permits for large underwater data centers in Cook Inlet, Alaska, and the Gulf of Maine, where tidal turbines would power the facilities. Scientists and local communities warn that construction noise, heat discharge and infrastructure could harm endangered beluga and North Atlantic right whales, while Eastport has enacted a moratorium on industrial data centers.
DeepGreen Holdings LLC has proposed underwater data centers in Cook Inlet, Alaska, and the Gulf of Maine. The projects would use seabed data-center pods powered by hundreds of tidal turbines, with the Cook Inlet proposal spanning about 1,650 acres and the Maine project covering a smaller revised footprint.
Scientists including Arial Brewer of the University of Washington and NOAA, Philip Hamilton of the New England Aquarium, and Columbia University professor Vishal Misra warned that turbine and construction noise, as well as heat released into surrounding waters, could threaten endangered beluga whales, North Atlantic right whales and salmon. Eastport, Maine, issued a moratorium halting permits and applications for industrial data centers, while the Passamaquoddy Tribe opposed collaboration with DeepGreen and groups sought to intervene in the Cook Inlet proposal.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said the projects remain proposals and that preliminary permits do not authorize construction. FERC found the original applications deficient but accepted amended versions; the Maine public-comment period has closed, while comments on Cook Inlet remain open before the agency decides whether to issue preliminary permits.