Eastport weighs AI underwater data center proposal as opponents seek to halt process, part 1
Eastport, Maine is considering a proposal from Deep Green Western Passage for an AI underwater data center. The project, which includes 170 turbines and 34 high-pot AI computer servers, has sparked significant community and county opposition due to concerns about local fisheries and the environmental impact. A preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been filed, but local officials clarify it is not an approval for construction.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) received a proposal in February for a preliminary permit for an AI underwater data center in Eastport, Maine. Deep Green Western Passage, a Massachusetts-based company, is behind the project, which aims to include 170 turbines and 34 high-pot AI computer servers.
Community members in Eastport, particularly Debra Gillispie and Swelling Hendrix, have expressed outrage over the proposal. Concerns center on the potential impact on local fisheries, which residents describe as a vital part of their identity and way of life. The proposed site near Kendall Head in Moose Island is considered extremely sensitive, being one of the most important fishing migration corridors in the region. There are also fears about temperature changes in the water that could harm local marine ecosystems.
Adding to the opposition, the Washington County Commissioners issued a letter to the Eastport City Council, citing their opposition to the project. However, Eastport City Manager Brian Shoots clarified that the FERC preliminary permit is "not approval for construction" and that the federal agency does not yet know if the project is viable. The permit grants the company up to four years to hold onto the idea.