The Lingle administration awarded a $2.9 million contract to AECOM today to perform the environmental impact statement on an undersea cable that would bring wind power from Lanai and Molokai to Oahu and help reduce the state’s dependence on imported oil.

The environmental review will examine the preferred routes for the cable and the potential impact on cultural, archeological, and ocean resources. The study, which is being financed with federal stimulus money, is expected to be completed by April 2012.

The estimated cost of the undersea cable is between $800 million and $1 billion. The wind power project, which could be completed by 2014, could help satisfy 12 percent of Oahu’s energy demand.