OpenAI Announces $20-30 Billion Data Center Project in Effingham County, Georgia

OpenAI announced plans on July 22, 2026, to build a $20–30 billion data center campus dubbed "Project Camellia" in Effingham County, Georgia, northwest of Savannah. The 1,400-acre facility has contracted 3.2 gigawatts of power from Georgia Power, with several hundred megawatts expected online starting in 2028 and development continuing through 2032. The project uses a closed-loop cooling system with minimal water use and a "full stack" design that allows computing components to be replaced as technology evolves, according to OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane.

OpenAI data center campus

• ▪The planned OpenAI data center campus, dubbed Project Camellia, will occupy 1,400 acres within the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub near Rincon, Georgia.
• ▪The OpenAI data center project is scheduled to begin operations in 2028 with 400 permanent employees and expand through 2032 to employ up to 1,000 workers.
• ▪OpenAI announced plans on July 22, 2026, to build a $20 billion to $30 billion data center campus in Effingham County near Savannah, Georgia.

Property tax abatement incentives

• ▪The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority approved a 15-year, 50% property tax abatement incentive package for OpenAI on July 21, 2026.
• ▪Effingham County officials estimate the average homeowner will receive a 40% reduction in property taxes due to tax revenues generated by the OpenAI data center.

Georgia Power capacity expansion

• ▪Georgia Power received approval in December 2025 for a nearly 10-gigawatt expansion of its generating capacity, with 80% expected to support data centers.
• ▪OpenAI contracted with Georgia Power Co. to secure 3.2 gigawatts of power for the data center, to be delivered in phases from 2028 to 2032.

Grid reliability measures

• ▪OpenAI plans to proactively reduce its power consumption during periods of high demand to protect the reliability of the local electric grid.
• ▪OpenAI committed to pay the full cost of the electrical infrastructure needed to serve the campus, preventing those costs from being passed to existing utility customers.

Community investment commitments

• ▪OpenAI committed to establish an $80 million community investment fund to support local priorities including schools, public safety, healthcare, and housing.
• ▪OpenAI will provide up to $71 million in Codex credits, offering $100 in credits per student at colleges, universities, and technical schools in Georgia.
• ▪OpenAI will pay for an independent auditing firm to conduct and publicly release annual audits verifying compliance with its community commitments.

Water system environmental design

• ▪Ongoing water usage at the OpenAI facility will be primarily for domestic purposes and will be comparable to an office building with similar staffing.
• ▪The OpenAI data center will utilize a closed-loop cooling system that continually recirculates water to minimize local water supply usage.