Google has been ordered to suspend preparatory work on two planned data center sites in northern Finland after carrying out extensive land clearing and earthworks before completing mandatory environmental impact assessments (The Guardian). The directive, issued by the Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV), targets project subsidiaries operating through Tuike Finland Oy in Muhos and Kajaani (Yahoo News). According to regulatory notices, the company must halt the affected activities immediately and no later than October 23 (The Energy Mag).
Regulatory Halt Order Issued for Finnish Data Center Sites
The intervention follows unauthorized site preparation that saw extensive changes to local terrain without finalized environmental evaluations. Regulatory officials stated that the ongoing work alters the local environment and creates impacts that must be identified and evaluated through the ongoing assessment procedure (The Guardian). Environmental impact assessment reports for both the Muhos and Kajaani developments are expected to be completed before the end of the year (Yahoo News).
Scope of Land Alterations and Regulatory Demands
Regulatory scrutiny intensified after disclosures that vast tracts of forest had been logged without completing the required environmental reviews (The Guardian). In Muhos, roughly 330 hectares of forest were cleared, while logging across just under 200 hectares took place in Kajaani (The Guardian). Representatives from the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation described the cleared Muhos location as reduced to sand, blaming the developments on an overheated market for digital infrastructure space (The Guardian).
The LVV order applies specifically to preparatory measures that significantly alter the environment, encompassing the removal of trees and topsoil, excavations, ditch modifications, and the construction of access roads and storage areas (Yahoo News). Activities with minimal environmental footprints that can be readily undone—such as planning, measurements, and soil surveys—remain exempt from the suspension (Yahoo News). Tuike Finland is required to submit a written explanation regarding its compliance by October 14, with the regulatory agency warning that failure to obey could lead to enforcement proceedings involving financial penalties (Yahoo News).
Google Plans 13 Billion Euro Investment in Finland
The halted projects form part of a broader infrastructure expansion initiative by the technology company in the region (The Guardian). Google previously announced plans to invest at least €13 billion in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure across Finland through 2027 and 2028, targeting sites in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos, and Vaala in what the company framed as its largest investment in Europe (Yahoo News).
