23 Daily — According to techspot.com, on October 29, 2026, U.S. company DeepGreen Holdings submitted a preliminary permit application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build two underwater data centers. These centers are designed to leverage the unique conditions of the underwater environment, but their proposed locations overlap with habitats of two endangered whale populations. This has raised concern among local communities and environmental advocates about potential impacts to marine ecosystems.
Details of DeepGreen Holdings’ Underwater Data Center Plan
DeepGreen Holdings aims to utilize natural seawater cooling systems in their underwater data centers to reduce operational costs and carbon footprint. Installing data centers underwater offers savings on cooling power consumption while minimizing land use and urban heat island effects. The two proposed facilities would be located off the U.S. coast, providing a novel infrastructure solution for handling large-scale data processing demands.
Environmental and Community Concerns
However, the proposed sites overlap with critical habitats for two endangered whale species, leading to worries from environmental groups and local fishers. Whales are sensitive to underwater noise and environmental changes; construction and operation of underwater data centers may disrupt their life cycles, breeding, and migration patterns. Local communities are also concerned about potential damage to fisheries and ecological balance, which could negatively affect the economy and cultural traditions of the area.
Editor's take: Balancing Underwater Data Center Innovation with Ecological Protection
The plan by DeepGreen Holdings reflects an industry trend toward environmentally innovative data center solutions, such as using seawater for cooling to lower energy intensity, showcasing developmental potential. Yet, overlapping with endangered whale habitats highlights the challenge of balancing new technology deployment with ecosystem conservation and local rights. Entrepreneurs and investors might explore integrating green technologies with environmental monitoring and foster collaborations with conservation organizations to ensure sustainable business growth. Validating projects like this sustainably requires not only formal environmental assessments and monitoring but also independent marine biology evaluations, community engagement, and long-term environmental impact tracking.