Google Apologizes for 800-Acre Finland Forest Clearing in €13 Million Data Center Project
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Oct 25
Google Apologizes for 800-Acre Finland Forest Clearing in €13 Million Data Center Project
2 articles · Updated · WIRED · Oct 25
Summary
Google apologized after clearing more than 800 acres of forest in Finland without the environmental permits required for part of a €13 million data center project.
The backlash centers on the company beginning site-clearing before securing approvals, turning a local permitting issue into a broader dispute over data-center expansion and environmental oversight.
Finland’s case lands amid rising resistance to AI-linked data centers over land, water, energy and emissions, with similar fights already seen in Ireland, the Netherlands, Singapore and the US.
The Guardian said the controversy could spill into Finland’s elections next spring, underscoring how data-center projects are becoming a political flash point across Europe.
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Finland’s €13 Billion Data Center Crisis: Google’s Illegal Logging, Environmental Fallout, and Global Tech Reckoning
Overview
In late 2026, Google’s rush to expand AI data centers in Finland led to the illegal clearcutting of around 400,000 trees across over 530 hectares near Muhos and Otanmäki, without completing required environmental reviews. This triggered a regulatory investigation, a stop-work order, and a police probe, freezing Google’s €13 billion project. The destruction caused stream pollution, wildlife displacement, and public outrage, sparking a national petition and forcing Parliament to debate stricter rules for data centers. Google’s promise to replant only a fraction of the lost forest was widely criticized, highlighting the risks of rapid tech expansion outpacing environmental oversight.