Pacific Crossing, a Japanese company that owns an underwater fiberoptic telecommunications cable that connects the U.S. to Asia, is opposing the proposed tidal power installation near Whidbey Island, Puget Sound, USA.

According to OPB News, the Japanese company that owns a fiberoptic cable that passes just over 100 meters away from the proposed project says that the turbines are being installed too close to the cable, therefore making the maintenance work difficult to perform.

An official from Energy Resource Development for the Snohomish County Public Utility District stated that these concerns are unfounded and that the turbines would be installed more than 100 meters away from the cable.

A final permitting decision on the tidal project is expected this fall.

Subsea World News Staff , August 14, 2012; Image: OpenHydro