Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFinland’s Permit and Supervision Agency has ordered Google subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy to suspend preparatory work that significantly changes the environment at planned data-centre sites in Muhos and Kajaani. The notices, issued on 6 October 2026, require the specified work to stop immediately and no later than 23 October, pending completion of the sites’ environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures. Lower-impact planning and survey work may continue.
What the order covers
The notices concern environmentally significant preparation at the planned Muhos and Kajaani sites—not every project activity. Yle reports that planning, measurements, soil surveys and other low-impact measures may continue. The suspension applies to work that substantially changes the environment while the EIA procedures remain incomplete.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Reported examples of work at issue include tree felling, removing topsoil, constructing roads and storage areas, and altering ditches and culverts. These are examples of the activities reported by news outlets; the order should not be read as a blanket ban on all work at either site. Yle’s report describes the agency’s notices and the work that prompted scrutiny.
Recommended Free Tools
Why the agency intervened
The concern reported by the agency is that substantial changes were made to the sites before the EIA procedures were complete, potentially undermining the assessment’s purpose of identifying and evaluating environmental effects. Tommi Muilu, head of LVV’s environmental department, told The Guardian: “In our opinion, the measures in question will change the environment and cause impacts, the identification and assessment of which are among the key objectives of the EIA procedure.”
#1 Best Overall
- A new type of connected system that replaces your router for seamless wifi coverage throughout your home, helping eliminate dead zones and buffering
- Network assist technology keeps your connection fast by always selecting the clearest channel and fastest band for your devices; WiFi throughput: 1200 MPBS.
- A simple app gets you set up quickly and allows you to see what's connected, prioritize devices, and pause the WiFi on kids' devices
- A single WiFi point covers up to 1,500 square feet, a set of three covers homes up to 4,500 square feet WiFi points work together so you can add more if you need additional coverage
- 24/7 phone support from google; 1 year warranty; material: plastic
Yle reports that Google and its subcontractors were suspected of errors related to forest clearance in spring, before an environmental impact assessment had been carried out. This is a reported suspicion and an ongoing regulatory matter, not a final court ruling or established criminal liability.
Google’s response and the separate legal processes
Google said it would study LVV’s findings and follow the agency’s guidance. The company also described its conduct as in good faith under forestry legislation and, in a statement reported by The Guardian, said it had “fallen short of our own high standards”. These statements do not resolve the agency’s concerns.
The distinction matters: the environmental impact assessment procedure is governed by Finland’s EIA Act, not the Forestry Act, according to Yle. A company’s position about compliance with forestry rules therefore does not, by itself, settle whether the separate EIA process was followed. The Guardian’s account reports the agency’s explanation and Google’s response.
Muhos and Kajaani: what is known about each site
Both planned sites are subject to the same reported requirement: environmentally significant preparatory work must be suspended pending completion of the EIA procedures. Their reported municipal circumstances differ, however, and do not establish that either project has cleared the separate environmental process.
Rank #3
- A new type of connected system that replaces your router for seamless Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, helping eliminate dead zones and buffering
- Network Assist technology keeps your connection fast by always selecting the clearest channel and fastest band for your devices
- A simple app gets you set up quickly and allows you to see what's connected, prioritize devices, and pause the Wi-Fi on kids' devices
- A single Wi-Fi point covers up to 1,500 sq. ft., a set of three covers homes up to 4,500 sq. ft. Wi-Fi points work together so you can add more if you need additional coverage
| Site | Reported municipal status | What the common order means |
|---|---|---|
| Muhos | No building permit had been granted at the time described in the secondary reporting; no municipal preliminary-work approval is established here. | Specified work that significantly changes the environment is to be suspended pending the EIA procedure. |
| Kajaani | No building permit had been granted at the time described; the municipality had approved certain preliminary works. | Municipal approval for specified preliminary work does not answer LVV’s separate concern about compliance with the EIA procedure. |
The permitting details are reported by PPC Land and should be understood as the status at the time of that account, not a statement about any later decision. They do not support a conclusion that one site is legally cleared or more environmentally harmful than the other. PPC Land’s account discusses the reported notices and municipal records.
Timeline and what happens next
- 9 September 2026: Google announced plans to invest at least €13 billion in Finnish digital infrastructure over 2027–2028, spanning Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala.
- 6 October 2026: LVV issued notices to Tuike Finland concerning significant environmental changes at the planned Muhos and Kajaani sites.
- 14 October 2026: PPC Land reported this as the deadline for Tuike to provide a written explanation. As of 7 October, it was a future procedural deadline, not a completed event.
- 23 October 2026: The latest date by which the specified preparatory work must be suspended, according to reporting on the notices.
- After the assessments: The reported suspension lasts until the EIA procedures are complete. As of 7 October, the assessment outcomes, final permit path, project schedule and any further enforcement were unknown.
How the halt fits into Google’s wider Finland plans
The notices affect only the planned Muhos and Kajaani sites, not every project in Google’s wider Finnish investment announcement. Google’s 9 September 2026 announcement covered digital infrastructure plans in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala. It projected that the initial construction phase would support more than 37,000 jobs nationwide and contribute an annual average of €3.6 billion to Finland’s GDP. Those are company forecasts for the wider investment, not observed outcomes or estimates for the two affected sites alone.
Rank #4
- VALUE BUNDLE INCLUDES: Google Nest Hub 2nd Generation with English, Spanish, French and Portuguese Global Language Compatibility so it works everywhere, Universal Power Adapter and Quick Start Guide with International Manual for Global Users
- IT WORKS EVERYWHERE Easy to use and will automatically start up in English when connecting to your device for the first time. The Nest Hub works globally with support for most languages and places internationally. And its language settings can always be changed back and forth to your preferred language anytime for international use or travel at your convenience
- BLENDS RIGHT INTO YOUR HOME Looks great on a nightstand, shelf, countertop - or the wall. This Nest Hub is small and mighty with bright sound that kicks! It plugs into the wall and is powered by the global ac adapter that works internationally so it works in outlets everywhere
- Speaker Size: 7.0 inches
- Connectivity Protocol: Wi-Fi
The same announcement included a planned 94 MW battery system near Kajaani, expected by Google to be operational in late 2027, and €31 million for community initiatives across four municipalities over four years. These, too, are announced plans rather than completed projects. Google’s announcement is the source for the investment scope, projections and commitments.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
