OpenAI plans $750 billion infrastructure spending through 2030

Jul 22, 2026

OpenAI plans to spend $750 billion on AI infrastructure through 2030, a significant increase driven by high demand. A central part of this is "Project Camellia," a $20 billion data center in Georgia that has secured a 3.2-gigawatt power deal. The project receives a 15-year tax abatement from Effingham County, but its reliance on Georgia Power, which is doubling its natural gas fleet, raises environmental concerns.

OpenAI infrastructure spending plan

▪This spending projection is an increase from a previous estimate of roughly $600 billion earlier in 2026.
▪The increased spending is a response to surging demand for artificial intelligence software.
▪OpenAI plans to spend approximately $750 billion on computing infrastructure through 2030.

Project Camellia data center

▪The Project Camellia campus will span 1,400 acres northwest of Savannah.
▪As part of its spending, OpenAI is building a $20 billion data center campus called "Project Camellia" in Effingham County, Georgia.
▪The facility will begin receiving power in 2028, with development continuing through 2032.
▪OpenAI has hired Brett Mayo, who previously oversaw the Colossus data center for xAI, to lead its data center construction.

Georgia Power capacity expansion

▪OpenAI has secured a 3.2-gigawatt power contract with Georgia Power for its Project Camellia data center.
▪A single gigawatt of power is enough to supply approximately 750,000 U.S. homes.
▪OpenAI will pay the full infrastructure and electricity costs, per a Georgia Public Service Commission rule for new users drawing over 100 megawatts.
▪OpenAI has agreed to reduce its power consumption by up to 1 gigawatt during periods of high demand on the electrical grid.
▪The 3.2-gigawatt deal accounts for about one-third of the 9,885 megawatts of new capacity Georgia Power was approved to add.

Natural gas generation increase

▪Most of Georgia Power's new generating capacity to meet demand will come from natural gas.
▪The remainder of Georgia Power's new capacity will be supplied by grid-scale batteries and solar power.
▪The utility plans to build or acquire 5.8 gigawatts of natural gas generating capacity, more than doubling its natural gas fleet.

Tax abatement incentives

▪OpenAI has pledged $80 million for local schools, healthcare, and housing in the Effingham County area.
▪Effingham County has granted OpenAI a 50% property tax abatement for a period of 15 years.
▪OpenAI will also provide up to $71 million in Codex credits to students in Georgia.

Air quality regulatory issues

▪The lawsuit, from the NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center, alleges the xAI data center ran dozens of unpermitted natural gas turbines.
▪A data center in Memphis previously managed by OpenAI's new hire, Brett Mayo, faces a lawsuit over alleged air quality violations.