Google data center projects suspended in Finland over environmental concerns

Authorities in Finland have ordered Google to suspend preparatory work for data center projects in Muhos and Kajaani. The decision follows findings that environmental impact assessments were not completed before work commenced. In Muhos, approximately 330 hectares of forest were cleared, while around 200 hectares were cleared in Kajaani.

Environmental Minister Sari Multala confirmed that the commencement of these clearings violated environmental impact assessment laws, leading to a request for a police investigation. Google’s land manager, Antti Järvinen, expressed regret regarding the situation.

The incident has sparked political debate concerning the implementation of the EU Environmental Crime Directive. Critics, including Green Party MP Krista Mikkonen, argue that the government’s delay in transposing the directive into national law may have limited the ability to impose immediate sanctions. Mikkonen has called for a holistic approach to land use, urging the state to manage the cumulative impact of data centers, mines, and energy projects on Finland’s forests and water systems, rather than evaluating projects in isolation.