Finland’s Supervisory Agency (LVV) has told the company behind Google’s planned data centres in Muhos and Kajaani to suspend work that would “significantly alter the environment” by 23 October, after more than 300 hectares of forest were cleared, at one site without the mandatory environmental impact assessment. The developer has until 14 October to explain itself, or face enforcement proceedings.
The sites are part of the €13bn investment Google announced less than a month ago, its largest single investment in Europe, and Google says it “fell short” of its own standards and will follow the agency’s guidance. Interesting test of how far Nordic countries will bend environmental rules to win the AI data-centre race.
There’s more to an EIS than tree clearing. Water quality, noise pollution, rate increases for power/water, aesthetic impacts, irretrievable resources (lost production of lumber/agriculture), wildlife, wetlands, erosion, socioeconomic impacts, coastal impacts… The EIS covers any short or long term effects the project may have and allows for both agency response and public comment.