A Finnish government agency has asked Google to suspend work on new data centres in two municipalities until 23 October 2026, pending an assessment of their environmental impact.
The projects in Muhos and Kajaani, in northwestern Finland, form part of a €13 billion investment announced in the country. It is the US technology group's largest single investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure in Europe.
During an AFP visit to Muhos last week, a journalist observed excavators operating around the construction site. The forest on land acquired by Google had already been cleared in front of the farm of a local resident interviewed by the news agency.
The Finnish supervisory authority has requested the suspension of “all preparatory measures that could significantly alter the environment” in connection with the planned projects in Muhos and Kajaani.
More than 3,000 hectares under scrutiny
The authority is investigating the case over suspicions that Tuike Finland, which represents Google, cleared more than 3,000 hectares of forest in Muhos without first carrying out the mandatory environmental impact assessment.
If Tuike Finland does not comply with the request, the supervisory authority said it would consider beginning proceedings for compulsory enforcement measures.
“We understand the concerns that have been raised and acknowledge that, in this case, we did not meet our own high standards,” Google spokesperson Sondre Ronander told AFP.
“We will study the Finnish authority's findings and follow its recommendations,” he added.
More data centres planned
Google is also planning to develop similar infrastructure in two other Finnish locations, Vaala and Hamina, where it already operates a data centre.
Finland's cold climate, relatively stable and inexpensive electricity, generated largely through nuclear power, and considerable wind and hydropower capacity have contributed to a recent surge in data centre investment.
Dozens of energy-intensive data centres are currently under construction, with many more planned, particularly by Microsoft and TikTok.
However, uncertainty over energy prices, electricity grid capacity and environmental impacts has triggered significant public debate in Finland.
A citizens' initiative calling for stricter rules governing data centres' energy consumption and environmental impact has collected around 84,000 signatures.
The proposal is expected to be debated in parliament.
Source: CNA
