Finland orders halt to work on Google’s data center sites

Finland’s environment and climate minister, Sari Multala, said Google’s projects will likely be delayed because of problems with environmental assessments.(AFP) — A Finnish authority on Tuesday ordered work halted at two of Google’s data center sites in the country until mandatory environmental impact assessments have been completed.The U.S. tech giant announced a 13 billion euro ($15 billion) investment in digital infrastructure in Finland in September to power its AI ambitions over the next two years.Google has called the data center projects in the municipalities of Muhos, Vaala, Kajaani and Hamina its single biggest investment in Europe.But the Finnish Supervisory Agency, known as LVV, said it had demanded that Tuike Finland, a company representing Google, “immediately suspend, and no later than 23 October 2026, all preparatory measures that would significantly alter the environment in connection with the planned data centre projects in Muhos and Kajaani.”The agency has been investigating whether Tuike Finland cleared hundreds of hectares of forest in Muhos and Kajaani without a mandatory environmental impact assessment.When AFP visited the Muhos site last week, Finnish Association for Nature Conservation Chair Hanna Halmeenpaa said “nature sites which should be preserved” had been logged in a deforested area of more than 300 hectares.Tuike Finland must provide an explanation and detail how it intends to proceed by Oct. 14.If it fails to comply with the demand, the agency said it may initiate “enforcement proceedings.”According to Tommi Muilu, head of LVV’s environment department, trees have been removed, topsoil stripped, site roads and storage areas constructed, and ditches altered.Google spokesman Sondre Ronander acknowledged the company’s shortcomings.“We understand the concerns and have fallen short of our own high standards in this instance,” he said in a statement sent to AFP.“We will study the LVV’s findings and follow their guidance.”He added that the company had “acted in good faith” and conducted environmental surveys and implemented protective measures.“As we continue our long-term work in the region, we are advancing our landscaping and biodiversity plans, which include tree planting across 130 hectares at Muhos,” Ronander said.Finland’s environment and climate minister, Sari Multala, said Google’s projects will likely be delayed because of the problems with the environmental assessments.In an interview with the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday, she said it was “a serious matter” if the company and its subcontractors acted as claimed.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads