Google ordered to halt major data-centre works in Finland
Finnish authorities demand an environmental assessment after hundreds of hectares of forest were cleared.
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Google must halt work that significantly alters the surroundings at two planned data centres in Finland until the environmental impact assessments have been completed. According to reports, an estimated quarter of a million trees have been felled near Muhos; Google says it acted in good faith.
The measure applies to sites near Muhos and Kajaani in northern Finland. Finland’s licensing and supervisory authority LVV ordered Google to stop work that significantly alters the surroundings by 23 October at the latest. This includes felling trees, excavating soil, installing drainage, and building roads and storage areas.
The immediate reason is that the environmental impact assessments for the projects had not yet been completed. According to Finnish public broadcaster Yle, preparatory work with limited impact, such as surveys, soil studies and planning, may continue. The halt therefore does not apply to every part of the projects.
Around 330 hectares of forest were cleared near Muhos, according to The Guardian. The newspaper estimates that 250,000 trees disappeared. In Kajaani, slightly less than 200 hectares of forest have been cleared, according to Yle. The environmental impact assessments for both projects have not yet been completed.
Google subsidiary Tuike Finland says the company assumed that the work had been prepared in accordance with the rules. According to Yle, Google confirmed that work at both sites had been halted and said it wanted to co-operate with the authorities. The company also says it is working on nature and restoration measures, including new planting near Muhos.
Kajaani municipality emphasises that ecological surveys and spatial-planning procedures have already been carried out for the area. According to the municipality, however, those surveys do not replace the formal environmental impact assessment. The municipality says the events show that authorities and companies need to exchange information earlier and more effectively on major projects.
The issue touches on a broader European struggle over data centres for cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Finland has ample space, relatively cheap electricity and a cool climate, but the case shows that demand for digital infrastructure can clash with environmental rules and local nature policy. No final approval has yet been granted for Google’s construction plans; further scheduling will depend in part on the results of the environmental assessments.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Finnish authority LVV has halted environmentally relevant preparatory work at two planned data centres.
- The environmental impact assessments for the projects had not yet been completed.
- Google says it acted in good faith and has stopped the work.
- Kajaani municipality says existing ecological surveys do not replace the formal environmental impact procedure.
Left
Arguments The case shows that nature and the living environment must not be considered only after large technology companies have already begun large-scale earthworks. Supporters of this approach will argue for stricter prior permits, greater public oversight and restoration at the polluter’s expense.
Values Protection of nature, public direction, precaution and a fair distribution of environmental damage.
Consequences They fear that a permissive approach will lead to further damage to natural areas and expect stricter rules to delay or make some data-centre projects more expensive.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach is that data centres can be economically and socially useful, but only within predictable procedures. The environmental impact assessment should therefore first establish the consequences before final decisions are taken.
Values Legal certainty, careful decision-making, economic development and workable regulation.
Consequences This perspective emphasises that a temporary halt can restore the procedure without rejecting the entire project in advance.
Right
Arguments A right-wing perspective will emphasise that investment and digital infrastructure must not be unnecessarily obstructed by bureaucracy, particularly if a company says it acted according to its legal interpretation. At the same time, responsibility for compliance should lie with the company.
Values Property, enterprise, economic growth and clear individual responsibility.
Consequences Supporters fear the loss of investment and jobs if procedures become too uncertain, but will also believe that companies that misjudge the rules should bear the costs of restoration and delays themselves.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The article’s central claims are confirmed by Yle and Kajaani municipality. The tree estimate comes from The Guardian and is attributed as an estimate; Google’s own account of its compliance is clearly presented as the company’s position.
- confirmed Finland has ordered work to be halted at two planned Google data centres near Muhos and Kajaani. — Yle describes the order issued by Finland’s licensing and supervisory authority LVV. source
- confirmed The environmental impact assessments had not yet been completed. — Yle reports that the halt applies until the environmental impact procedures have been completed. source
- confirmed Around 330 hectares of forest were cleared near Muhos and slightly less than 200 hectares in Kajaani. — Yle mentions these areas in reporting on the sites. source
- confirmed An estimated 250,000 trees were felled near Muhos. — The Guardian presents this as an estimate based on the area of forest cleared. source
- confirmed Google says it acted in good faith and halted the work. — Yle publishes Google’s response and confirmation of the halt. source
- confirmed Kajaani municipality says ecological surveys do not replace the formal environmental impact assessment. — This appears in the municipality’s explanation, as reported by Yle. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the Finnish authority has halted environmentally relevant work at two Google sites and that the environmental impact assessments had not yet been completed. The estimate of 250,000 trees comes from The Guardian; Google does not dispute that trees were felled, but says it acted in good faith and according to its interpretation of the rules.Sources
- Google: ‘Emme yltäneet tavoitteisiin’ – viranomainen laittoi datakeskustyömaat jäihin Muhoksella ja Kajaanissa — Yle
- Kajaani kommentoi Google-kohua: viranomaisten ennakoivaa ohjausta ja lupamenettelyjen yhteensovittamista kehitettävä — Stad Kajaani via Yle
- ‘Pure arrogance’: anger in Finland as Google illegally fells 250,000 trees for datacentre — The Guardian
More on this in Dutch media
- Trouw — „google datacenters”
- NU.nl — „google datacenters”
- De Telegraaf — „google datacenters”