# Priority, Not Permission > 66 data center pods. 330 to 350 turbines. 3.5 miles of cable. The federal notice never says how much seabed. Published 2026-09-21 by Alaska AI. 9 slides. Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-09-21/ ## The story So far, the Cook Inlet data center is a document. Applied. DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV, LLC filed an application for a preliminary permit on February 11th and supplemented it on June 26th. FERC signed the notice September 1st. The Federal Register published it September 4th. Proposed. 66 modular subsea-compute hives, which the notice also calls data center pods. 330 to 350 marine hydrokinetic turbines. A 3.5 mile, 115 kV hybrid power and fiber-optic armored cable, landing in the Nikiski Industrial Corridor. Priority. "The sole purpose of a preliminary permit, if issued, is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license application during the permit term." It would not authorize construction, land-disturbing work or entry onto property owned by others. 100 megawatts "The estimated annual generation of the DeepGreen Project would be 100 megawatts, which would primarily be utilized to power the subsea data center." A megawatt measures power, not a year of it. That is the notice's own wording. What it says. What it doesn't. IN THE FEDERAL NOTICE Nobody called. "We're going to file to intervene and oppose it, just so we have a position. We've had no communication with them." The Peninsula Clarion reports that DeepGreen cited AEA's own planned Cook Inlet PowerLink, 38 miles and up to 200 megawatts, in its federal filing. ORPC says it has no affiliation with the project and is not participating in it. Anyone. Including a rival. The window takes comments, protests and motions to intervene. It also takes competing applications for the same site, and notices of intent to file one, under 18 CFR 4.36. A place in line is a thing other people can want. File. November 2nd. Comments, protests, motions to intervene and competing applications are due 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2nd, on FERC docket P-15423-000, through the Commission's eFiling system. The Peninsula Clarion reports the deadline moved from October 31st, a Saturday. ## What we verified - The proposal is docketed at FERC as Project No. 15423-000. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV, LLC has applied to FERC for a preliminary permit under section 4(f) of the Federal Power Act. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The application was filed on February 11th and supplemented on June 26th. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The applicant calls the proposal the DeepGreen Cook Inlet Subsea-Compute & Infrastructure Hub Project. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The application proposes to study the feasibility of a project to be located in the Upper Cook Inlet, East Foreland Corridor, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The proposed project as described to FERC would include approximately 330 to 350 marine hydrokinetic turbines. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The proposed project as described to FERC would include 66 modular subsea-compute hives, which the notice also calls data center pods. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The proposed project as described to FERC would include a subsea cable approximately 3.5 miles long. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The proposed subsea cable is described as a 115 kV hybrid power and fiber-optic armored cable. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The proposed subsea cable would come ashore in the Nikiski Industrial Corridor. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - FERC's notice states that the estimated annual generation of the DeepGreen Project would be 100 megawatts, primarily to power the subsea data center. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - FERC states that the sole purpose of a preliminary permit is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license application during the permit term. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - FERC states that a preliminary permit does not authorize the holder to perform any land-disturbing activities or to enter upon lands or waters owned by others without the owners' express permission. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing applications and notices of intent is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2nd. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - FERC states that competing applications and notices of intent must meet the requirements of 18 CFR 4.36. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - FERC directs the public to file comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent and competing applications through the Commission's eFiling system. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The FERC contact named on the notice is Christopher Brosman, reachable at (202) 502-8573. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The applicant contact named on the notice is Louis Wolfson, Managing Member of DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV, LLC. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The notice is dated September 1st and signed by Carlos D. Clay, Deputy Secretary, and it was published in the Federal Register on September 4th. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice published in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04. - The Peninsula Clarion reported that the filing deadline was moved from October 31st because that date falls on a Saturday. [Peninsula Clarion](https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. - Alaska Energy Authority CEO and Executive Director Curtis W. Thayer said the authority will file to intervene and oppose the application. [Peninsula Clarion](https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. - Thayer said the Alaska Energy Authority has had no communication with the applicant. [Peninsula Clarion](https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. - The Peninsula Clarion reported that DeepGreen referenced the Cook Inlet PowerLink in its federal filing while AEA said it has had no discussions with the company. [Peninsula Clarion](https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. - The Peninsula Clarion described AEA's Cook Inlet PowerLink as a planned 38 mile underwater transmission connection between the Kenai Peninsula and the Anchorage Matanuska Susitna region. [Peninsula Clarion](https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. - The Peninsula Clarion reported that the planned Cook Inlet PowerLink would have capacity to move up to 200 megawatts in either direction. [Peninsula Clarion](https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. - ORPC CEO Stuart Davies said ORPC has no affiliation with the DeepGreen project and is not participating in its development, permitting, financing or deployment. [Homer News](https://www.homernews.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. - The Peninsula Clarion reported that a preliminary permit would give the company priority to pursue a future license while it studies feasibility and would not authorize construction, land-disturbing work or entry onto property owned by others. [Peninsula Clarion](https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/2026/09/14/federal-review-advances-for-subsea-data-center-off-nikiski/), report, 2026-09-14. Slides and the deck PDF are linked from the canonical page.