Google Halts Construction on Two Finnish Data Centers Amid Environmental Concerns
Google has been ordered by Finland’s Licensing and Supervision Agency (LVV) to halt construction work at two data centers in Muhos and Kajaani until environmental impact assessments are completed. The suspension includes activities such as tree removal, excavation, road building, and soil transfer but does not affect planning or minor surveying tasks that can be easily reversed. A Google spokesperson acknowledged the concerns and admitted falling short of internal standards while emphasizing efforts to protect biodiversity through landscaping plans involving 130 hectares at Muhos. Finland has become a key location for data centers due to its available land, power supply, and climate advantages—earning it comparisons with Texas as an AI infrastructure hub. The halt comes just one month after Google announced a $15 billion investment in Finnish AI infrastructure through 2028. The environmental review is expected to be completed by October 23.
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Topics: AI infrastructure data centers environmental impact Finland Google