Additional Resources: Permitting Info

Permitting Overview

This section provides supplementary permitting information for tidal energy systems in Alaska.

Permitting costs are not currently included in the VITAL Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) calculation because project-specific permit cost data are not available in the software. However, several agencies may require permits, authorizations, consultations, or other approvals depending on the project configuration, site location, ownership, deployment duration, grid connection status, and environmental setting.

The information below is intended to help users identify agencies that may be relevant during early-stage project planning.

Relevant Agencies

The following agencies may have permitting, consultation, or authorization requirements for tidal energy deployments in Alaska:

Potential Permitting and Consultation Requirements by Agency

Agency	Role	Potential Requirement
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)	Regulates structures, anchors, and seabed disturbances in navigable waters.	A permit may be required for anchor placement, seabed disturbance, submerged cables, weighted lines, or other structures in navigable waters.
U.S. Coast Guard	Oversees navigation safety, lighting/marking, and obstructions in navigable waterways.	A Private Aid to Navigation (PATON) permit, marking plan, or navigation-safety review may be required for floating platforms or structures.
Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR)	Manages state-owned submerged lands and related land-use authorizations.	A land-use authorization, easement, or other approval may be required for anchors, moorings, seabed infrastructure, or undersea cables on state lands.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)	Protects fish, wildlife, and habitat resources.	Consultation or review may be required for potential effects on fish habitat, wildlife, or sensitive ecological resources.
NOAA Fisheries	Oversees protected marine species and related consultations.	Consultation may be required if marine mammal, protected species, or essential fish habitat interactions are plausible.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)	Regulates certain hydroelectric and marine energy projects under federal authority.	Applicability depends on project configuration, grid connection, location, and use case. Users should confirm whether FERC jurisdiction, exemption, or licensing requirements apply.
Local Municipality/Borough	Controls local shore access, upland cable landing, zoning, and local land-use requirements.	Local permits or approvals may be required if the project uses municipal property, shore access, upland infrastructure, or local rights-of-way.
Private Landowner/Tribal Entity	Manages access to private, tribal, or community lands and waters.	An easement, license, access agreement, consultation, or other authorization may be required depending on ownership and project location.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)	Oversees certain discharges, spills, and environmental compliance requirements.	Requirements may apply if the project involves discharge, runoff, fuel handling, spills, construction impacts, or other regulated environmental effects.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)	Oversees federal offshore energy leasing and some offshore energy activities.	Applicability depends on whether the project is located in federal waters or otherwise falls under BOEM jurisdiction. Near-shore or state-water projects may not require BOEM authorization, but jurisdiction should be confirmed for each site.

Disclaimer

This permitting information was compiled by Sitkana Inc. as of December 2025 and is intended as a general guide for users of the VITAL software tool. Permitting requirements may change over time and depend on project configuration, location, ownership, environmental setting, deployment duration, and grid connection status.

This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal or regulatory advice. Users should consult the relevant agencies and qualified permitting specialists for project-specific guidance.