Google has been ordered to temporarily stop construction on two data centers in Finland after failing to complete environmental impact assessments before beginning site preparation work.
According to the Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV), Google’s subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy felled 330 hectares of forest in Muhos and logged approximately 200 hectares in Kajaani without finishing the required environmental impact assessment (EIA). The company also conducted other preparatory measures including removing trees, stripping topsoil, and constructing site roads.
On Tuesday, the LVV issued a notice requiring Google to “immediately suspend” work by October 23 at the latest until the environmental assessment is completed. The EIA is ongoing and expected to be finished later this year. Google has until the following Wednesday to submit a written explanation to regulators.
Tommi Muilu, head of the environmental department at LVV, stated: “In our opinion, the measures in question will change the environment and cause impacts, the identification and assessment of which are among the key objectives of the EIA procedure.” The authority warned that failure to comply could result in enforcement proceedings and fines.
The two data centers are part of a €13 billion project across multiple sites in northern Finland. According to Google’s statement, the company “fell short of our own high standards” and said it “acted in good faith under the Forestry Act” while conducting nature surveys and protecting high-value areas. Google added that it is advancing landscaping and biodiversity plans that include tree planting across 130 hectares at the Muhos site.
The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation characterized the situation as a “systemic problem,” with its chief operating officer describing the Muhos site as “not a forest any more. It is a sand area.” The organization attributed the oversight to the “overheated” data center market, which is pushing companies to accelerate processes while overwhelming small municipalities lacking environmental expertise.
Key facts
- Google felled 330 hectares of forest in Muhos and logged ~200 hectares in Kajaani without completing environmental impact assessments
- Finnish regulators ordered Google to halt preparatory work by October 23 until the EIA is completed
- The two data centers are part of a €13 billion multi-site project in northern Finland
- Google acknowledged falling short of its standards and stated it acted in good faith under the Forestry Act
- The company plans to plant trees across 130 hectares at Muhos as part of biodiversity efforts