{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-16/center-biological-diversity-eastport-data-center-permit","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-16/center-biological-diversity-eastport-data-center-permit.md","title":"Center for Biological Diversity Joins Eastport Data Center Permit Fight","headline":"Center for Biological Diversity Intervenes as FERC Comment Period on Eastport Subsea Data Center Permit Closes","description":"The Center for Biological Diversity has moved to intervene on a 48-month FERC preliminary permit for DeepGreen Western Passage SPV's proposed subsea AI data center in Eastport.","section":"Regulation & Approvals","published_at":"2026-10-16T19:38:18+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-16T19:38:18+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's comment deadline on a 48-month preliminary permit for DeepGreen Western Passage SPV is Monday, October 19.","Save Passamaquoddy Bay, the city of Eastport, Eastport Community Solar, the Center for Biological Diversity, residents Carrie Cobb and Gary Fronheiser, and the National Marine Fisheries Service – Greater Atlantic Region have moved to intervene.","The Eastport City Council denied the Eastport Coalition for Healthy Oceans a meeting agenda spot for the fourth time, while Councilor Karen Raye said she will host a community conversation with the group."],"companies":[{"name":"Center for Biological Diversity","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002fl3/center-for-biological-diversity","website":"http://www.biologicaldiversity.org"},{"name":"Save Passamaquoddy Bay","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/005zksl/save-passamaquoddy-bay","website":"https://www.savepassamaquoddybay.org"},{"name":"National Marine Fisheries Services","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/004gxjp/national-marine-fisheries-services","website":"https://galveston-tx.texas-places.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"Yahoo","title":"Public comment period on federal permit for proposed Eastport data center ends Monday","url":"https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/public-period-federal-permit-proposed-192116563.html"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Regulation & Approvals","Center for Biological Diversity","Save Passamaquoddy Bay","National Marine Fisheries Services"],"body_markdown":"The [Center for Biological Diversity](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002fl3/center-for-biological-diversity) has moved to intervene on a 48-month preliminary permit application for DeepGreen Western Passage SPV, a proposed subsea artificial intelligence data center in Eastport's coastal waters, as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's comment deadline of Monday, October 19, approaches, [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/public-period-federal-permit-proposed-192116563.html) reported. The Center for Biological Diversity is a Tucson-based nonprofit founded in 1989 that pursues environmental litigation and coalition campaigns, according to [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data).\n\n## Intervenors Line Up on the Eastport Permit\n\n[Save Passamaquoddy Bay](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/005zksl/save-passamaquoddy-bay) recently joined the list of groups seeking a voice in the process, according to Yahoo. Other entities moving to intervene include the city of Eastport, Eastport Community Solar, the Center for Biological Diversity, local residents Carrie Cobb and Gary Fronheiser and the National Marine Fisheries Service – Greater Atlantic Region. Save Passamaquoddy Bay is an environmental alliance of U.S. and Canadian citizens alongside the Passamaquoddy Tribe.\n\nDeepGreen Western Passage SPV filed its preliminary permit in February to begin engineering and environmental studies, and FERC accepted it for filing in August. Following Monday's deadline, FERC is expected to review the motions and schedule hearings for all parties seeking to intervene. Comments and motions already filed are available at elibrary.ferc.gov under docket number P-15424.\n\nThe Eastport City Council denied the Eastport Coalition for Healthy Oceans, or ECHO, a spot on its meeting agenda for the fourth time this week, coalition member Birdy Velveteen said. When ECHO member Joshua Nicholson submitted a written request for an agenda item, Councilor Colleen Dana-Cummings wrote in response, \"Can they do that on their own? … I don't feel like that is something for a City Council meeting.\" Councilor Karen Raye posted on Facebook that she will host a community conversation or informal public meeting with ECHO, telling Monitor Local the meeting will happen, \"but we need to work on a date and location.\"\n\n## Center for Biological Diversity's Litigation Record\n\nAccording to akta.pro company records, the Center for Biological Diversity won Endangered Species Act listing protection for 149+ species, reduced or eliminated livestock grazing on 2 million acres of the California Desert Conservation Area, and got 49,310 acres of Algodones Dunes protected from off-road vehicles. The same records show a December 2024 grant of $100,000 from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.\n\n## Earlier Data Center Challenges\n\nIn July 2026, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter filed an administrative appeal challenging federal approval of the Townsite Data Center in Boulder City, Nevada, proposed by Skylar Capital Management and authorized by the Bureau of Land Management, CleanTechnica reported. In September 2026, an administrative judge granted a stay on the Townsite Solar 2 data center project near Boulder City, delaying further work, KLAS reported.\n\n## What Comes After the Deadline\n\nFERC is expected to review the motions and schedule hearings for all parties seeking to intervene after Monday's deadline. Councilor Karen Raye said she will host a community conversation with ECHO once a date and location are set.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}