Finnish Town Muhos Prepares for Google's Massive Data Centres

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 5, 2026

Google has begun building large data centres in Muhos, Finland, as part of a 13 billion euro investment that will create thousands of jobs and transform the local community. However, the project faces environmental scrutiny due to extensive forest clear-cutting without a required impact assessment, prompting an official investigation.

In the northern Finnish town of Muhos, preparations are underway for the construction of large data centres by Google, marking the company’s most significant European investment to date. The technology giant has announced plans to invest 13 billion euros (approximately $15 billion) in Finland over the next two years, with sites in Muhos, Kajaani, Vaala, and Hamina, where it already operates a facility.

Construction has begun on land near Muhos, adjacent to major power lines, where forests have been cleared to make way for the new data centres. Locals, including 36-year-old farmer Joni Pitkanen, who lives a few kilometres from the site, describe the scale of the project as overwhelming. “The project is so massive that it’s basically hard to really grasp, even though we’re right here on the sidelines,” Pitkanen said.

Muhos, a small municipality with a population around 8,800, is anticipating significant changes as a result of the investment. Mayor Kimmo Hinno highlighted the transformative impact the data centres are expected to have on the local community and the wider Oulu region. He said the construction phase would likely bring thousands of workers of varied nationalities to the area, increasing demand for housing and services.

Local residents, including 60-year-old nurse Aila Heilima, expressed cautious optimism. Heilima hopes the influx of investment and employment opportunities will encourage younger residents to remain in Muhos rather than seeking work in larger Finnish cities.

However, the project has not been without controversy. The Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV) is currently investigating potential environmental violations tied to the construction. Concerns have been raised following the clear-cutting of more than 300 hectares of forest, allegedly undertaken by Tuike Finland, a company representing Google, without conducting a mandatory environmental impact assessment.

Hanna Halmeenpaa, chair of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, requested that construction activities be halted until compliance with environmental laws is confirmed. She noted that satellite images appear to show that protected natural areas were logged, describing the cleared land as roughly equivalent in size to 420 football fields.

The project has also drawn international attention. Among the reactions, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Google to reconsider its plans via a post on his social media platform.

As the development progresses, both the economic prospects and environmental implications remain at the forefront of discussions among residents, officials, and environmental groups in Muhos.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.