North-east councillors have been asked to refer a decision on a major energy project to the full Aberdeenshire Council.
The proposal is part of the North Connect project, which will link Peterhead to Norway with a 415-mile cable.
It is hoped the connection can boost the renewable energy markets in Scotland and Scandinavia.
The planning application that will be discussed by members of the Buchan area committee is for an underground cable that would stretch 1.2 miles from a landfall point at Longhaven to an interconnector station near Stirlinghill Quarry.
It is part of the wider scheme, which involves the installation of a 1400-megawatt interconnector, which will provide an electricity link between Scotland and Norway allowing electricity to be transmitted in either direction.
A report by council infrastructure boss Stephen Archer said the cable would be laid in phases and, once it was in place, would last around 40 years.
The document also said there had been no objections to the proposals.
An environmental impact assessment report was carried out on behalf of the developers to assess the potential effect on wildlife, geology and air quality.
It concluded the impact on the area during the construction would be “non-significant” and Mr Archer said planning officials accepted those findings.
It is recommended the Buchan area committee provide preliminary views on the North Connect cable project ahead of a full council meeting in January.
The report will be discussed at a meeting in Peterhead on Tuesday.