Google has come under scrutiny from Finnish authorities for clearing approximately 300 hectares of forest—roughly equivalent to 420 football fields—before completing a full environmental review of its planned data center expansion in Finland.
The issue emerged last month when Finland’s Permit and Supervision Agency (LVV) asked Tuike Finland Oy (TFO), Google’s local company for the project, to explain its actions. According to the agency, the forest clearing began before the project’s environmental impact assessment was properly completed. Google is investing €13 billion in AI-focused data center infrastructure in Finland as part of the expansion.
Google has stated that the forest clearing complied fully with Finnish laws and regulations. The company says the site was properly surveyed before bulldozing began to ensure no high-value environmental areas would be damaged.
However, Hanna Halmeenpää, chair of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, disputes this characterization. According to Halmeenpää, satellite imagery indicates that areas intended to be protected have already been leveled. She has called on the LVV to halt the entire construction site while authorities determine whether Google obtained formal approval before clearing the forest.
According to the source text, TFO is theoretically required to operate in an environmentally friendly manner, with specific measures covering energy sustainability, job creation, and support for the local environment.
The potential suspension of work at the Finnish site reflects broader concerns about data center expansion. Similar projects in the US and elsewhere are facing delays, as communities increasingly question the environmental costs of large-scale AI infrastructure buildouts. Finland ranks among the highest-rated countries globally for environmental protection standards, which may add weight to the regulatory scrutiny.
The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for how tech companies approach environmental compliance when planning major infrastructure projects internationally.
Key facts
- Google cleared approximately 300 hectares of Finnish forest before completing environmental review
- Finland’s Permit and Supervision Agency is investigating the project
- Google is investing €13 billion in AI-focused data center infrastructure in Finland
- The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation claims satellite imagery shows protected areas have been leveled
- The project could potentially be suspended pending regulatory determination