Google recently submitted a building permit application for a data center, which the Avesta municipality has granted, according to official sources. Google bought land in Horndal from Avesta municipality in 2017. The land in Horndal is 150 football fields in size.
The plan is to build five server halls on the land. Google has consistently stated that it has not yet made a business decision to build. Groundwork has been ongoing since mid-November, as confirmed by official sources.
However, there are recurring objections to the data center construction, including that it leads to more expensive electricity and does not benefit the local community. It remains unclear when Google expects to finalize its building decision or how the company responds to concerns about electricity costs and local benefits. Additionally, the broader impact of a Google establishment on a small town like Horndal is not yet known.