DeepGreen underwater AI data center in Western Passage
Also called: DeepGreen Western Passage
A new company wants to put AI server pods on the sea floor off Eastport, powered by tidal turbines. Federal regulators accepted its application for a study permit. The Passamaquoddy Tribe and many residents oppose it.
Where things stand: FERC accepted a study permit application in Aug. 2026. Not a building permit. City has a 180-day moratorium.
🕒 Latest update (Aug 19, 2026): FERC accepted the study permit application. Public comments due Oct. 19.
What we know
- 📍 WhereIn the water near Kendall Head, off Eastport's north shore (Western Passage), Eastport, Washington County
- 🏢 CompanyDeepGreen Western Passage SPV LLC
- 🌳 Size27 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs15 megawatts (about as much as 12,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromUnderwater tidal power turbines
- ❄️ CoolingServer pods under the sea, cooled by seawater
- 💵 Cost$100 million
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Will Eastport voters ban large data centers in November 2026? 🙋 I'll find out
- Does the company have the money and experience to build this? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Feb 2026DeepGreen asked FERC for a 48-month permit to study a 51 MW tidal power and underwater data center project.
- July 2026FERC flagged problems; company cut the plan to 15 MW at most.
- Aug 2026Eastport City Council passed a 180-day data center moratorium.
- Aug 19, 2026FERC accepted the study permit application. Public comments due Oct. 19.
Local votes and rules
🚫 Ban
Eastport City Council unanimously adopted a resident-backed ordinance banning large data centers, including underwater ones like the DeepGreen plan. It turned down a second petition that would have made big projects need a town vote; city lawyers called it unlawful. The council plans to make the ban stronger and clearer.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
Eastport City Council unanimously passed a 180-day pause on industrial data centers, on land or underwater. The city cannot approve permits for them during the pause. It came after the DeepGreen underwater data center plan.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Developer eyes Down East Maine as home for proposed underwater AI data center · Bangor Daily News · March 3, 2026
- FERC accepts preliminary permit for underwater data center off Eastport · Bangor Daily News · Aug 24, 2026
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