Finnish Police Initiate Criminal Investigation into Google Data Center Site Clearing

Finnish police have initiated a criminal investigation into potential violations of environmental laws at the site of a planned Google data center in Muhos, Finland. This development comes after Tuike Finland, a Google subsidiary, cleared and drained approximately 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest at the datacenter site prior to completing necessary environmental impact assessments ¹²³.

The Finnish Supervisory Agency had previously ordered Google to halt preparatory measures altering the environment at two sites, Muhos and Otanmäki, due to incomplete environmental impact assessments ¹. The investigation now focuses on possible breaches of the Water Act and resulting environmental damage ². According to campaigners, around 250,000 trees were felled at Muhos and 150,000 at Otanmäki ¹.

Google’s Finland country manager expressed regret for the forest clearings but maintained that the company followed its understanding of the legislation at the time ¹. The work at the data center site was halted by Finnish authorities at the beginning of October ². Over 93,000 individuals have signed a petition calling for stricter regulations on datacenters and compensation for environmental damage ¹.

Experts argue that despite the favorable conditions in Finland, such as a cool climate and low-carbon electricity, which make it attractive for data center construction, these facilities provide limited local job opportunities and minimal national benefits ¹². The projected increase in Finland’s electricity consumption due to data centers could reach up to 40% ².

What we know

• - Finnish police initiated a criminal investigation regarding potential violations of environmental laws at the site of a planned Google datacenter in Muhos, Finland ¹²³
• - Tuike Finland cleared and drained approximately 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest at the datacenter site prior to completing necessary environmental impact assessments ¹
• - The Finnish Supervisory Agency ordered Google to stop preparatory measures altering the environment at two sites, Muhos and Otanmäki, due to incomplete environmental impact assessments ¹
• - Google's local subsidiary, Tuike Finland, allegedly cleared forests and drained land at the site near Muhos before completing necessary environmental impact assessments ²
• - The investigation focuses on possible breaches of the Water Act and resulting environmental damage ²
• - Work at the data center site was halted by Finnish authorities at the beginning of October ²
• - Google cleared hundreds of acres of forest for the data center ³
• - Campaigners estimate around 250,000 trees were felled at Muhos and 150,000 at Otanmäki ¹
• - Google's Finland country manager expressed regret for the forest clearings but stated the company followed its understanding of the legislation at the time ¹
• - Over 93,000 individuals have signed a petition calling for stricter regulations on datacenters and compensation for environmental damage ¹
• - Experts argue that datacenters provide limited local job opportunities and minimal national benefits ¹
• - Finland's favorable conditions, such as cool climate and low-carbon electricity, make it attractive for data center construction ²
• - Projected increase in Finland's electricity consumption due to data centers could reach up to 40% ²
• - The data center is planned for northern Finland ³