Finnish authority tells Google to halt data centre site works

Finland’s Permits and Supervision Agency has told Google to stop preparatory work that significantly alters the environment at its planned data centre sites in Muhos and Kajaani, Yle reported. The instruction remains in force until environmental impact assessments for both projects are complete.

Google has confirmed that it cleared 330 hectares of forest in Muhos and just under 200 hectares in Kajaani. The agency says other extensive works have also taken place, including removing topsoil and building access roads and storage areas.

The environmental assessments are still underway, zoning decisions have been appealed and Google does not have building permits for the data centres. Police are also investigating preparatory work at the Muhos site. The work stoppage could last for months.

Google has said it acted in good faith and relied on Finland’s Forest Act for the logging. The agency says projects of this kind cannot, in practice, carry out logging solely on that basis.

Yle’s review of documents submitted by Google and the municipalities of Muhos and Kajaani traces the events back to March, when Google had not yet made formal investment decisions but said it would begin logging on land it owned in both places. A local company carried out the work. At the end of the month, Google applied to Muhos for a permit to begin extensive earthworks and foundation work.

In April, Muhos’s building control authority sought the agency’s view on Google’s application. Google also asked whether an environmental impact assessment was required, although the assessment process was already underway. In May, the agency told Muhos not to grant the requested permit while the assessment was unfinished, and told Google there was no reason to skip the assessment.

That month, Google submitted a building permit application for its Kajaani data centre and notified the city that it planned to carry out preliminary work allowed under section 109 of the Building Act. The city acknowledged the notification and did not prohibit the work. In June, Muhos declined to issue the permit Google had sought, but its building control authority told the company that preparatory measures under the same section of the law were possible.