Google pledges €13B for Finland data centers as regulator halts two sites
In brief
- Google announced at least €13 billion ($15.1 billion) for Finnish AI infrastructure on September 9.
- New sites in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala get funding; spending covers 2027 to 2028.
- Construction-phase jobs top 37,000 in projections reported by Crypto Briefing.
- Finland's LVV ordered work stopped at Muhos and Kajaani on October 6.
Three new sites and a bigger Hamina
The spending is scheduled over roughly two years (2027 to 2028), per Google's September 9 announcement as reported by Crypto Briefing. It'll fund three new data centers in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, plus an expansion of the Hamina campus Google has run since 2009. Google had already put €4.5 billion into Hamina before this announcement.
And the €13 billion isn't a cap. The report describes it as a floor rather than a ceiling.
Crypto Briefing also reported the projected economic impact: more than 37,000 jobs during construction (approximately 16,000 of them directly in construction work) and around 7,000 ongoing jobs once the facilities are operational. Those ongoing roles are projected to pay wages roughly 24% above the Finnish median, and the investment is forecast to add an average of €3.6 billion a year to Finland's GDP. These are projections, not results.
Nuclear, wind and batteries
Finland's pitch comes down to two things. The cold cuts cooling costs, and the grid offers cleaner energy, including nuclear and hydroelectric power. Google signed a 22-year power purchase agreement with Fortum that lets it buy up to 50% of the output of the Loviisa nuclear plant, according to the report. It's also lined up contracts for wind energy and a 94 MW battery system.
Stop-work order at Muhos and Kajaani
The rollout hit a snag on October 6.
Finland's LVV ordered work to stop at the Muhos and Kajaani sites after forest was cleared before environmental impact assessments were finished, Crypto Briefing reported. Google acknowledged it had fallen short of compliance and pledged to follow the rules going forward, according to the report. The company has outlined biodiversity measures, including planting 130 hectares of trees at the Muhos site where work was halted.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Finland's regulator halt work at Google's data center sites?
On October 6, 2026, Finland's Licensing and Supervisory Agency (LVV) ordered work to stop at the Muhos and Kajaani sites, according to Crypto Briefing. The report said forest had been cleared before environmental impact assessments were completed. Google acknowledged it had fallen short of compliance and pledged to follow the rules going forward.
Why are data center operators choosing Finland?
According to Crypto Briefing, Finland's appeal comes down to its cold climate, which cuts cooling costs, and access to cleaner energy including nuclear and hydroelectric power. Google signed a 22-year power purchase agreement with Fortum to buy up to 50% of the Loviisa nuclear plant's output.
