Finnish authorities are investigating Tuike Finland Oy, a Google-owned project company, over potential environmental violations during land clearing for data centers in Muhos and Kajaani. The probe follows a complaint filed in September 2026 by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.
The investigation focuses on the clearing of over 300 hectares of forest in Leppiniemi, which began in March 2026. Finnish law mandates an environmental impact assessment for clear-cutting exceeding 200 hectares.
Although the company requested an exemption in April 2026 and entered a formal assessment process in May 2026, reports indicate that tree felling continued throughout the summer. Google asserts that its actions complied with the Finnish Forest Act.
In 2024, Google purchased 1,400 hectares of land from the state forestry agency Metsähallitus for €27 million. Additionally, on September 9, 2026, the company announced a broader €13 billion investment plan for data center infrastructure across four Finnish locations.
The ongoing investigation and the formal environmental impact assessment process could result in project delays or financial penalties for the developer. Authorities are currently determining whether the clearing work should have been paused pending the assessment.
