OpenAI plans $750 billion infrastructure spending through 2030

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