Eastport City Council asks feds to deny application for underwater data center
The Eastport City Council asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny DeepGreen Western Passage SPV’s preliminary permit for an underwater AI data center, citing potential effects on marine habitat, fisheries, water quality, utilities and the local economy. The council has also enacted provisions prohibiting large-scale data centers, including underwater facilities, after adopting a temporary development moratorium.
The Eastport City Council formally intervened in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings and asked the agency to reject DeepGreen Western Passage SPV’s proposed underwater artificial intelligence data center. Councilors cited unresolved concerns about marine habitat, underwater noise, heat, electromagnetic fields, fisheries, water quality, emergency services, decommissioning and the project’s potential effect on Eastport’s economy and waterways.
Residents, Eastport Community Solar, the Center for Biological Diversity and other organizations also filed motions or comments opposing the proposal. Ocean Renewable Power Co. CEO Stuart Davies separately told FERC that his company had no involvement in DeepGreen’s project, despite being referenced in the permit application. Eastport officials said the city had enacted provisions banning large-scale data centers in covered areas following a temporary moratorium, while FERC’s review and intervention process remains pending.