# Google’s €13 Billion Finland Data-Center Plan Faces Environmental Review

By Simon Yoon

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/27907
Published: 2026-10-08T09:44:49.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-08T09:44:49.000Z
Section: Technology

> Finnish authorities ordered Google subsidiary Tuike Finland to suspend environmentally significant preparatory work at planned sites in Muhos and Kajaani.

Google’s €13 billion expansion in Finland faces an environmental review after authorities ordered its subsidiary Tuike Finland to suspend preparatory work at planned data-center sites in Muhos and Kajaani.

The Finnish Licensing and Supervisory Agency (LVV) issued the order Oct. 6. It covers activities that could significantly alter the environment, including tree removal, topsoil stripping, excavation, blasting, crushing, soil movement, drainage work, road construction and storage areas.

The suspension will remain in effect until environmental impact assessment procedures for both sites are complete. Tuike Finland has until Oct. 14 to provide an explanation.

Google announced Sept. 9 that it plans to invest €13 billion in Finland during 2027 and 2028, describing the program as its largest single investment in Europe. The plan includes data centers, clean-energy projects and local economic partnerships.

The company projects that construction activity will support more than 37,000 jobs nationwide and contribute €3.6 billion annually to Finland’s gross domestic product. Google also plans to invest €31 million in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala over four years, including training for more than 4,400 workers and 100 Finnish students.

The energy program includes a 22-year agreement supporting the lifetime extension of Fortum’s Loviisa nuclear plant, additional onshore wind capacity and a 94-megawatt battery system beside Google’s planned Kajaani data center. The power purchase agreement will eventually cover up to 50% of Loviisa’s capacity, reaching that level between 2030 and 2049.

Loviisa supplies 10% of Finland’s electricity and employs about 580 people. Fortum estimates the plant’s lifetime-extension program will cost about €1 billion through 2050, with roughly €700 million still subject to investment decisions as of Sept. 9.

Google already operates a data center in Hamina, converted from a former paper mill 15 years ago. The company said its Hamina operations supported more than 600 Finnish suppliers between 2023 and 2025. The new investment is tied to demand for services including Search, Maps and Gemini.

“Today’s announcement, our largest single investment in Europe, will provide a significant boost to the Finnish economy,” Bikash Koley, vice president of Google Global Infrastructure, said in the announcement.

Google also acknowledged the environmental dispute. “We understand the concern this situation has caused. In this case, we did not meet the high standards we set ourselves,” said Sondre Ronander, Google’s head of communications for Finland and Norway.