Finland calls on Google to suspend work at two data centers pending an environmental impact assessment

A Finnish government agency on Tuesday called on Google to suspend work until October 23, 2026, at data centers planned in the municipalities of Muhos and Kajaani. The authority opened an investigation into possible violations of environmental legislation after the company representing Google allegedly cleared more than 300 hectares of forest in Muhos without the mandatory environmental impact assessment.

The Finnish environmental monitoring agency requested that all preparatory work that could significantly alter the environment be halted. If the request is not complied with, the authority warned that it may impose enforcement measures. In Muhos, excavators were already working on the land purchased by Google, and the forest near a farm had been cleared.

The projects are part of a €13 billion investment in Finland, Google’s largest single investment in Europe in the field of artificial intelligence. The company acknowledged that it had not followed its own standards in this case and announced that it would review the agency’s findings and follow its recommendations.

Google also intends to develop data centers in Vaala and Hamina. Finland attracts investment because of its cold climate and energy produced from nuclear, wind and hydropower sources, but the expansion of infrastructure has sparked controversy over energy consumption, the electricity grid and environmental impacts.