# Its "Strategic Partner" is a cable still on paper

> In February, DeepGreen's FERC filing for a Cook Inlet AI data center named AEA's planned undersea cable its "Strategic Partner."

Published 2026-11-02 by Alaska AI. 9 slides.
Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-11-02/

## The story

Its "Strategic Partner" is a cable still on paper.

In February, a "Strategic Partner." Now, conceptual.

"Applicant has not entered into, nor does it claim to hold, any formal binding partnership, co-sponsorship, or executed interconnection agreement with AEA." Its CIPLink references are "conceptual engineering alignments."

Today the partner is a request for information.

AEA asks cable makers to prequalify and says the document isn't an invitation to bid. The base bid is one 100 MW pole, with a second only as an option. Award is planned for the end of 2027.

DeepGreen wrote of "co-locating with the CIPLink southern terminal."

AEA's RFI puts the southern converter station at Soldotna, about 28 miles by land from the cable's landfall near Nikiski.

AEA calls today's Kenai to Anchorage link a single point of failure.

CIPLink is AEA's plan to cross the inlet instead, Beluga to Nikiski.

"My complaint today is being in the dark about a potentially very large, substantial development offshore of Cook Inlet"

262 filings by the close. No competing application.

134 were in by October 22nd. 72 came on the final day. Seven parties moved to intervene, Cook Inletkeeper last, on October 26th.

Contract planned for the end of 2027. Service targeted for December 2031.

Should FERC rule on DeepGreen before CIPLink's cable goes out to bid?

## What we verified

- The Alaska Energy Authority published its CIPLink submarine cable prequalification and request for information, numbered 27025, on October 15th. [Alaska Energy Authority procurement site](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- Responses to AEA's CIPLink cable RFI are due December 15th at 2 p.m. Alaska time. [Alaska Energy Authority procurement site](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA engaged Stantec Consulting Services in July 2025 to support CIPLink development, and that work produced the cable RFI. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI says it is not an invitation to bid, an offer or a commitment to proceed with procurement. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI describes CIPLink as an HVDC system crossing Cook Inlet between Beluga and Nikiski. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA says CIPLink has received federal funding through the Department of Energy's Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- The base bid for CIPLink's submarine cable is a 100 MW asymmetrical monopole. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- A second 100 MW pole, which would make a 200 MW bipole, is bid only as an additive alternate. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI puts the CIPLink submarine cable route at about 40 miles, or 64 km, from landfall to landfall. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- The RFI places CIPLink's southern converter station at Soldotna, about 28 miles by terrestrial line from the cable landfall near Nikiski. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA is targeting an in-service date of December 2031 for all CIPLink components. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI says the federal GRIP funding requires CIPLink to be fully completed by August 31st, 2032. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA expects to take the submarine cable engineering, supply and installation procurement to market in mid-2027. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA plans to award the submarine cable contract at the end of 2027. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's schedule has submarine cable and accessory manufacturing finished by the end of 2029. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's schedule has the submarine cable installed in 2030 and 2031. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA intends to complete CIPLink's environmental review and permit issuance in early 2029. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- The RFI specifies a rated DC voltage of plus or minus 100 kV for the CIPLink submarine cable. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- The cable route must cross at least three existing assets, namely GCI's Kodiak Kenai Fiber Link, Alaska Communications' AKORN cable and Hilcorp's Tyonek W10 pipeline. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- The RFI says CIPLink's preliminary cable route runs adjacent to and west of the planned route of a proposed LNG line. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- Respondents prequalify for future cable procurement with a score of 24 or more out of 40 and no category below 4. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI notes there are noise limits in Cook Inlet because of marine mammals. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI asks cable bidders how they would prevent ice scouring damage at the landfalls. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's CIPLink project page lists the project status as In Development. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA says CIPLink would eliminate the current single point of failure between Kenai and Anchorage. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA's project page describes CIPLink's subsea cable as 38 miles long. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA says CIPLink would deliver up to 200 megawatts of bidirectional power transfer. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA's project page puts CIPLink's estimated cost at $413 million. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA's project page lists a federal Department of Energy grant of $206.5 million for CIPLink. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA's project page lists $62.5 million for CIPLink as secured. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA's project page lists an additional $142.5 million as still required for CIPLink. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- AEA's project page gives CIPLink a target completion of 2032. [Alaska Energy Authority](https://www.akenergyauthority.org/CIPLink), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- DeepGreen's application gives the project an installed capacity of 100.0 megawatts. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen's application describes the project as a firming load for the Railbelt grid via the planned CIPLink. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen's application says its landing site is strategically positioned to interface with AEA's CIPLink. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen's application describes CIPLink as the planned 38-mile, 200 MW HVDC subsea line between Nikiski and Beluga. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen's application says the hub would co-locate with the CIPLink southern terminal. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen asked FERC for a 48-month preliminary permit term. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen's study schedule places its interconnection and CIPLink technical studies in months 24 to 36 of the permit term. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen estimates its studies over the 48-month permit term would cost $4,500,000. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- The filing summary in DeepGreen's draft notice lists CIPLink and the Alaska Energy Authority as its Strategic Partner. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- DeepGreen's October 27th answer says it has not entered into, and does not claim to hold, any formal binding partnership, co-sponsorship or executed interconnection agreement with AEA. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261027-5049), primary document, 2026-10-27.
- DeepGreen's answer says its references to CIPLink reflect conceptual engineering alignments and regional transmission possibilities under study. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261027-5049), primary document, 2026-10-27.
- DeepGreen's answer asks FERC to issue the preliminary permit for Project No. P-15423-000. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261027-5049), primary document, 2026-10-27.
- DeepGreen told FERC a preliminary permit authorizes zero physical hardware placement and zero construction. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261027-5049), primary document, 2026-10-27.
- DeepGreen's answer says the City of Kenai has not taken an opposing position on the application. [DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261027-5049), primary document, 2026-10-27.
- The Alaska Energy Authority told FERC it has had no communications or relationship with DeepGreen. [Alaska Energy Authority, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261008-5007), primary document, 2026-10-08.
- AEA told FERC it owns the Sterling to Quartz Creek transmission line. [Alaska Energy Authority, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261008-5007), primary document, 2026-10-08.
- AEA told FERC it holds capacity rights on the Soldotna to Sterling transmission line. [Alaska Energy Authority, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261008-5007), primary document, 2026-10-08.
- Cook Inletkeeper told FERC it opposes issuing the preliminary permit because of potential impacts on Cook Inlet beluga whales, their habitat and the watershed. [Cook Inletkeeper, FERC eLibrary](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261026-5031), primary document, 2026-10-26.
- FERC's eLibrary listed 262 filings in docket P-15423 dated on or before November 2nd. [FERC eLibrary, docket P-15423](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search?docketNumber=P-15423), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- The docket held 134 filings dated on or before October 22nd, the date of the previous deck. [FERC eLibrary, docket P-15423](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search?docketNumber=P-15423), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- 72 filings in docket P-15423 are dated November 2nd, the final day of the comment window. [FERC eLibrary, docket P-15423](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search?docketNumber=P-15423), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- Seven parties filed eight motions to intervene in docket P-15423, namely the Center for Biological Diversity, the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Conservation Alliance, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Rebecca Long, AEA, the City of Kenai and Cook Inletkeeper. [FERC eLibrary, docket P-15423](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search?docketNumber=P-15423), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- Cook Inletkeeper's motion to intervene was filed on October 26th, the last of the eight motions. [FERC eLibrary, docket P-15423](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search?docketNumber=P-15423), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- No competing application or notice of intent to file one appeared in the P-15423 record by the November 2nd deadline. [FERC eLibrary, docket P-15423](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search?docketNumber=P-15423), primary document, 2026-11-02.
- FERC set 5 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2nd as the deadline for comments, motions to intervene and competing applications on DeepGreen's permit. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice 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 describes the project as about 330 to 350 marine hydrokinetic turbines. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice 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 describes an approximately 3.5-mile, 115 kV subsea cable from the hub to a landing site in the Nikiski Industrial Corridor. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice 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 says the sole purpose of a preliminary permit is to give the holder priority to file a license application. [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, notice in the Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/04/2026-18151.txt), primary document, 2026-09-04.
- AEA's RFI says the submarine cable route is subject to change as a result of marine surveys planned within the year. [Alaska Energy Authority, PQ and RFI 27025](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI requires the HVDC submarine cables to carry 48 single-mode glass fibers for cable monitoring. [Alaska Energy Authority, PQ and RFI 27025](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI assumes a cable outside diameter of 114 mm for a mass-impregnated cable and 102 mm for an XLPE cable, for installation planning. [Alaska Energy Authority, PQ and RFI 27025](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI assumes the cable is buried 3 feet deep after it is laid across Cook Inlet. [Alaska Energy Authority, PQ and RFI 27025](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI assumes each landfall is about 0.6 miles of horizontally drilled conduit with a maximum depth of 65 feet. [Alaska Energy Authority, PQ and RFI 27025](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA's RFI gives the rated DC current of the cable as 1000 A. [Alaska Energy Authority, PQ and RFI 27025](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- AEA holds a pre-response conference for cable respondents on November 4th at 10:30 a.m. Alaska time. [Alaska Energy Authority, PQ and RFI 27025](https://www.aideaaeaprocurement.org/Home/File/10618), primary document, 2026-10-15.
- DeepGreen filed its preliminary permit application with FERC on February 11th. [FERC eLibrary, docket P-15423](https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20260211-5060), primary document, 2026-02-11.
- Petroleum News reported that $269 million of CIPLink's estimated $413 million had been secured, citing AEA. [Petroleum News](https://www.petroleumnews.com/story/2026/10/25/utilities/cook-inlet-transmission-line-project-seeks-rfis/50465.html), report, 2026-10-25.
- Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche told Alaska's News Source that sloppy was how he would describe DeepGreen's approach at this stage. [Alaska's News Source](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/28/sloppy-is-way-i-would-describe-this-approach-unknown-plans-an-underwater-data-center-cook-inlet/), report, 2026-10-28.
- Micciche told Alaska's News Source his complaint was being in the dark about a potentially very large development offshore in Cook Inlet. [Alaska's News Source](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/28/sloppy-is-way-i-would-describe-this-approach-unknown-plans-an-underwater-data-center-cook-inlet/), report, 2026-10-28.
- Under a proposed exchange, Hilcorp would sell Enstar 1.2 billion cubic feet of gas previously allocated to MEA, no later than December 15th. [Petroleum News](https://www.petroleumnews.com/story/2026/11/01/utilities/enstar-seeks-rca-approval-for-proposed-gas-exchange-with-mea/50473.html), report, 2026-11-01.
- The exchange gas would be priced at $9 per mcf plus a $2.75 per mcf fee paid by Enstar to Hilcorp. [Petroleum News](https://www.petroleumnews.com/story/2026/11/01/utilities/enstar-seeks-rca-approval-for-proposed-gas-exchange-with-mea/50473.html), report, 2026-11-01.
- Without the exchange, Enstar would have about 3.7 billion cubic feet of gas in storage by the end of December. [Petroleum News](https://www.petroleumnews.com/story/2026/11/01/utilities/enstar-seeks-rca-approval-for-proposed-gas-exchange-with-mea/50473.html), report, 2026-11-01.
- Petroleum News reports that Enstar's typical stored gas range is 6 billion to 7 billion cubic feet. [Petroleum News](https://www.petroleumnews.com/story/2026/11/01/utilities/enstar-seeks-rca-approval-for-proposed-gas-exchange-with-mea/50473.html), report, 2026-11-01.
- Enstar would have to deliver equivalent payback volumes to MEA's storage account by March 31st, 2028. [Petroleum News](https://www.petroleumnews.com/story/2026/11/01/utilities/enstar-seeks-rca-approval-for-proposed-gas-exchange-with-mea/50473.html), report, 2026-11-01.

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