Google Felled About 250,000 Trees to Build a Finnish AI Data Center; Regulator Orders Work Halted
Google cleared about 330 hectares of forest and is estimated to have felled about 250,000 trees to build a data center in Muhos in northern Finland, and it carried out large-scale land clearing before completing the legally required environmental impact assessment. Earlier this month, the Finnish Permitting and Supervision Agency (LVV) ordered construction to be suspended at two sites, Muhos and Otanmäki about 100 kilometers away, and required activities that would significantly alter the environment to stop by October 23, failing which enforcement proceedings and fines could be initiated. Environmentalists estimate that another 150,000 trees were felled in Otanmäki, and Google's Finland country head has apologized for the forest clearing.
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The original article provides specific developments on the regulator halting construction and Google's apology, allowing readers to understand the conflict between data center construction and local environmental regulations.
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Finnish Forest "Shaved Bald": Google Illegally Clears 250,000 Trees for AI Data Center
2026-10-23 14:57 IT Home - Guyuan
IT Home, October 23 news: The UK's The Guardian reported yesterday (October 22) that Google cleared about 330 hectares (3.3 million square meters) of forest to build a data center in Muhos in northern Finland, felling an estimated 250,000 trees, and carried out large-scale land clearing before completing the legally required environmental impact assessment, even removing topsoil.
Citing a blog post, IT Home reports that local residents and environmental groups criticized the site, which now has only muddy clearings, machine tracks and piled-up tree roots; muddy water may also flow into streams that eventually empty into the Oulujoki River, raising concerns about water quality and ecology.
Earlier this month, the Finnish Permitting and Supervision Authority (LVV) ordered Google to suspend construction at two sites, Muhos and Otanmäki about 100 kilometers away, and to stop activities that would significantly alter the environment by October 23; if not complied with, the regulator may initiate enforcement proceedings and impose fines.
Environmentalists estimate that in addition to the 250,000 trees in Muhos, about 150,000 more trees were felled in Otanmäki, saying Google illegally felled 400,000 trees in Finland. Because the felling was illegal, the timber also cannot be sold to wood-processing companies. Google's Finland head has apologized for the forest clearing.