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Finland's permitting and supervision authority (LVV) has required Google to suspend construction at two data center sites, Muhos and Otanmäki, and to halt activities that would significantly alter the environment by October 23 so that environmental impacts can be assessed. According to IT Home, 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, carrying out large-scale land clearing before completing the legally required environmental impact assessment; LVV made the request earlier this month, failing which it could initiate enforcement proceedings and impose fines. Environmentalists estimate that another roughly 150,000 trees were felled at Otanmäki, and Google's Finland country head has apologized for the forest clearing. The Guardian subsequently reported that Tuike Finland Oy, a subsidiary of the Google project, was required to suspend all work at the two sites by October 23; the two sites are part of Google's $15 billion Finnish AI infrastructure investment announced in September. There is currently no evidence that the suspension requirement has been lifted or of any subsequent enforcement progress.
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Finnish regulator asks Google to suspend construction at two data center sites
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Oct 25
Phoenix Technology
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Oct 24
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Google cleared 250,000 trees in Finland for a data center and is accused of starting work without completing an environmental impact assessment
According to The Guardian, Google cleared about 250,000 trees and 816 acres of forest near Muhos in northern Finland for an AI data center, and is accused of starting work before completing the legally required environmental impact assessment. Finland's permitting and regulatory authority has ordered Google's project subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy to suspend all work at two data center sites by October 23 in order to assess the environmental impact. The two sites are part of the $15 billion Finnish AI infrastructure investment Google announced in September. Local residents report that after the forest disappeared, wolves entered the village, and that nearby water sources have turned brown and polluted the streams that flow into the Oulujoki River.
Oct 23
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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.
Phoenix Technology
Google cleared 250,000 trees for a data center in Finland; regulator ordered work to stop
Google cleared about 330 hectares of forest, estimated at about 250,000 trees felled, to build a data center in Muhos in northern Finland, and carried out large-scale land clearing before completing the legally required environmental impact assessment. The Finnish Permitting and Supervision Agency (LVV) earlier this month 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. Environmentalists estimate that another approximately 150,000 trees were felled in Otanmäki, and Google's Finland country head has apologized for the forest clearing.
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