Finland orders halt to work on Google data centre sites
Summary
Finland’s environmental authority has ordered Google to stop work on two data centre sites until full environmental impact assessments are done. Google plans a €13 billion investment in Finnish data centres to support its AI projects but faces concerns over cleared forests and power use.Key Facts
- Finland’s Supervisory Agency (LVV) ordered Google’s representative company, Tuike Finland, to halt work at data centre sites in Muhos and Kajaani.
- The halt is until environmental studies are completed and must be enforced by October 23, 2026.
- Authorities are investigating if forest clearing on hundreds of hectares was done without proper assessments.
- LVV found evidence of tree removal, soil stripping, road building, and ditch changes at the sites.
- Google admitted shortcomings and said it will follow the agency’s guidance and continue planting trees on part of the land.
- The data centres are Google’s biggest investment in Europe, costing €13 billion over two years.
- Finland’s cool climate and low-carbon electricity attract data centre projects, but energy supply concerns are rising.
- Google agreed to buy up to half the output of Finland’s Loviisa nuclear plant, extending the plant’s operation from 2030 to 2050.
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