Saving Seafood

ALASKA: Fishing groups concerned over proposed Cook Inlet data center

October 8, 2026 — Alaska commercial fishing and conservation center in Cook Inlet warns that the project could affect salmon migration, fishing operations, and marine habitat.

East Coast company DeepGreen Cook Inlet is proposing a 100-megawatt subsea data center that could include as many as 350 underwater turbines and 66 “hives” housing artificial intelligence servers. The system would use Cook Inlet water for power and cooling.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted DeepGreen’s preliminary permit application on Sept. 1, opening a two-month public comment period. The preliminary permit would not authorize construction but, if approved, would give the company priority to apply for a license while studying the site.

The Alaska Commercial Fisheries Conservation Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, and Kenai Peninsula Borough have filed motions to intervene in the federal proceedings, citing concerns ranging from commercial fishing and salmon migration to Cook Inlet’s endangered beluga whale population.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

MAINE: Eastport files motion to intervene in underwater data center case

October 5, 2026 — The City of Eastport registered a formal motion to intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday in an attempt to block a controversial subsea artificial intelligence data center proposal, DeepGreen Western Passage SPV.

The councilors, who also sent an accompanying statement to FERC that was posted a day later, joined a growing list of residents and organizations fighting the project, including the nonprofit research group the Center for Biodiversity, by registering official concern over the DeepGreen Western Passage application for 48-month preliminary permit, which was accepted for filing by the agency in August.

The August acceptance of DeepGreen’s FERC preliminary permit application by the Commission kicked off a 60-day process for community members, organizations and other relevant parties to formally intervene in the permit proceedings; that window closes this month.

In a letter to FERC posted on Sept 30, the City Council asked that FERC deny the application.

“We recognize that a preliminary permit would not authorize construction or land-disturbing activities,” councilors wrote. “Nevertheless, it would give DeepGreen priority to pursue development of this project at this location for up to four years. That is a significant procedural benefit involving waters and community interests that are central to Eastport’s economy, heritage, and future.”

Read the full article at The Maine Monitor

ALASKA: Alaska fishing and wildlife groups raise alarm over proposal for underwater Cook Inlet data center

October 5, 2026 — Many Alaskans have opposed proposed data center development in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and on the North Slope. Some residents don’t believe they belong in Cook Inlet, either.

Earlier this year, the East Coast company DeepGreen Cook Inlet released plans for a 100-megawatt subsea data center with as many as 350 underwater turbines and 66 “hives” housing artificial intelligence servers, both powered and cooled by water in Cook Inlet.

Louis Wolfson, a managing member for company DeepGreen and luxury real estate developer based in Needham, Massachusetts, said the proposal seeks to work around some of the constraints facing traditional, land-based data centers: a need for both large plots of developable land and significant amounts of energy from the local grid.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted DeepGreen’s preliminary Cook Inlet permit application on Sept. 1, triggering a two-month public comment period.

While this permit does not authorize construction, it does serve as a small step forward. A preliminary permit, if issued, would give DeepGreen priority to apply for a license while the company studies the site.

A decision on whether or not to issue the permit will be made once the comment period closes and all feedback and other filings are reviewed, said commission spokesperson Ashley Ingebrigtsen.

Read the full article at Anchorage Daily News