300 Hectares of Finnish Forest Cleared for Google’s New €13B Data Centre Expansion

Google's massive new investment in Finland has quickly become the subject of an environmental dispute after more than 300 hectares of forest were cleared at the site of a planned data centre in Muhos.

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto) says the clearing may have violated Finland's environmental impact assessment rules because the forest was permanently cleared before the required environmental assessment process was completed. The organisation has asked Finland's Permit and Supervision Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto, LVV) to investigate and take action.

The cleared area is roughly equivalent to 420 football pitches, according to the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.

Forest cleared before Google's €13 billion announcement

The clearing took place in the Muhos area of Northern Ostrobothnia, where Google is developing a future data centre.

Google officially announced on 9 September 2026 that it would invest €13 billion in Finland over the next two years. The investment covers data centres and supporting infrastructure in Muhos, Kajaani and Vaala, as well as an expansion of Google's existing data centre operations in Hamina. Google described it as its largest single investment in Europe.

However, forest clearing at the Muhos site had already taken place.

Yle reported that major forestry work had started months earlier, while Google's final investment announcement had not yet been made. Google had previously begun preparatory work at land it owned in Muhos and Kajaani.

Nature group questions environmental assessment

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation argues that the Muhos clearing exceeded the 200-hectare threshold that triggers an environmental impact assessment for permanent conversion of forest land under Finland's EIA legislation.

According to the organisation, the environmental impact assessment for the Muhos data-centre project is still incomplete. It says only the initial programme stage has been completed, while the final assessment report and the authority's reasoned conclusion are still missing.

The organisation has therefore asked LVV to intervene and ensure that the project is brought into compliance with the law.

It has also asked authorities to investigate whether similar forest clearing took place at Google's planned sites in Kajaani and Vaala.

Google's response: No law was broken

Google has rejected the allegation that it acted unlawfully.

The company told STT that trees were cut on Google's land in Muhos and Kajaani in accordance with the requirements of Finland's Forest Act.

Google also said that extensive nature surveys had been carried out as part of the zoning and environmental assessment processes and that valuable natural areas were being protected during forestry operations.

Google's own Muhos project website says site preparation has begun and that the work is proceeding in compliance with obtained permits.

Finnish authorities are investigating

The dispute is now being examined by the Permit and Supervision Agency (LVV).

The authority has requested additional information from Muhos municipality, the City of Kajaani and Tuike Finland Oy, Google's Finnish project company, about what work has been carried out and what permits were involved.

LVV has said it is not yet taking a position on whether Google acted unlawfully.

According to LVV, the situation remains unclear, and the investigation is still ongoing. The authority also noted that the completion of the first stage of an EIA process does not automatically mean that preparatory work was unlawful; authorities must examine what permits were issued and what activities those permits allowed.

The zoning process is also under scrutiny

Another issue raised by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation concerns the legal status of the local zoning plan.

Muhos municipal council approved the relevant zoning plan in March 2026, but an appeal has been filed with the Northern Finland Administrative Court, meaning the plan had not yet become legally final when the nature organisation filed its complaint.

The exact legal implications of that situation are also part of the wider dispute.

A major investment with environmental questions

Google's €13 billion investment is expected to bring significant construction activity and economic benefits to northern Finland. Google says the investment will support thousands of jobs and includes funding for local communities, clean energy and environmental projects.

At the same time, the Muhos forest-clearing controversy has raised questions about how large data-centre developments should balance economic investment with environmental requirements.

For now, there has been no final official finding that Google broke the law. The Finnish authorities are still collecting information and assessing whether the forest clearing and preparatory work complied with the applicable permits and environmental legislation.

The case could therefore become an important test of how Finland handles the rapid expansion of AI and data-centre infrastructure while protecting forests and other natural areas.

Sources: Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto (Finnish Association for Nature Conservation); Yle; Lupa- ja valvontavirasto (LVV); Google.