Finland halts Google data-center sites after alleged illegal tree clearing
Original title: Google illegally cut down 250K trees in Finland for data center
Officials say about 250,000 trees across 816 acres were cleared near Muhos before a required assessment.
Finnish authorities suspended work at two Google data-center sites after accusing subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy of clearing forest before a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment. Reporting says an estimated 250,000 trees were removed across 816 acres near Muhos, with another site near Kajaani. Google's Antti Järvinen said the company believed it had approval, apologized, and pledged to protect water and replant about 321 acres. The projects are part of a $15 billion Nordic AI infrastructure plan announced in September.
Unconfirmed: The 250,000-tree figure is a reported estimate, and Google says it believed the clearing was legally approved.
- The licensing agency gave Tuike Finland Oy an October 23 deadline to stop work.
- Residents say wolves entered Otanmäki after wildlife left the cleared forest.
- Streams feeding the Oulujoki River turned brown after the clearing, the report says.
- The two sites near Muhos and Kajaani are roughly 90 miles apart.
- Google said it would replant trees on about 321 of the cleared acres.
- Vendors
- Organizations
- Finnish Licensing and Supervision AgencyFinnish Association for Nature ConservationTuike Finland Oy
- Countries
- Finland
From the original article
4 min read at nypost.com
Google illegally demolished an estimated 250,000 trees in Finland to make way for a data center, leaving behind a lifeless mud wasteland that forced packs of wolves into a nearby town in search of food and infuriated locals, according to a report.
By rustybolt · nypost.com
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