Google må stanse datasenterbygging: – Områdene er redusert til sand

The Finnish authorities have ordered Google to halt construction work on two planned data centers in Muhos and Kajaani, Finland. The reason is that the company has begun significant work before the environmental impact has been assessed. The Finnish inspection body LLV reported this in a press release. The data centers in Muhos and Kajaani are part of a 13 billion euro investment – Google's single largest investment in Europe ever.

Google has set aside around 330 hectares of forest in Muhos and nearly 200 hectares in Kajaani, according to The Guardian. The Finnish nature conservation organization describes the areas as being reduced to "sand." Hanna Halmeenpää, CEO of the Finnish nature conservation organization, told Yle that either poor incompetence by Google's Finnish project company, Tuike Finland Oy, or a lack of respect for Finnish legislation – or possibly both – is to blame.

Google's subsidiary, Tuike Finland Oy, must stop the work immediately, and at the latest by October 23. The prohibition includes grading, removal of topsoil, digging, blasting, soil compaction, and building access roads. If Google does not stop the work, Finnish authorities warn they will consider punitive measures, including fines.

Google said it understands the concerns and admits it did not meet its own high standards in this case. A Google spokesperson said the company acted in good faith and in accordance with forestry law, conducting environmental impact assessments and taking measures to protect areas of high nature value. Google announced the plans in Finland just over a month ago.

The technology giant plans to invest 13 billion euros in AI data centers over the next two years, making it Google's largest investment in Europe ever. The company signed a 22-year power purchase agreement with the Finnish energy company Fortum, according to CNBC. Fortum's stock surged 11% after the news.