OpenAI plans to invest over $30 billion in a new 3.2-gigawatt data center complex, Project Camellia, in Effingham County near Savannah, Georgia, potentially making it one of the company’s largest infrastructure projects to date. The ChatGPT maker contracted with Georgia Power to deliver the 3.2 GW of energy in phases between 2028 and 2032 under a 25-year agreement. As part of this arrangement, OpenAI agreed to provide up to 1,000 MW of flexible demand response, allowing Georgia Power to reduce power delivery to the facility during times of high grid demand to support system-wide stability and reliability.
Also, OpenAI committed to spending at least $20 billion in the county to qualify for an incentive package set for a vote this week. According to Sachin Katti, OpenAI’s vice president of compute strategy, reaching the full 3.2 GW scale will push total project costs past $30 billion. Moreover, Katti noted that OpenAI is actively seeking development and financing partners, while keeping open the option to manage portions of the operations directly.
Community Concerns Addressed
Addressing common community concerns, OpenAI stated that it will pay the full cost of the required electrical infrastructure and power, adhering to state regulations that prevent passing these expenses onto existing ratepayers. Moreover, the facility will incorporate a closed-loop cooling system that recirculates water to minimize resource consumption, alongside its demand-response mechanisms to protect nearby residents from grid strain. Additionally, OpenAI pledged $80 million in local community benefits over the life of the project, up to $71 million in Codex credits for eligible Georgia college and technical students, and an annual publicly available audit by an independent firm to ensure commitments are met. Additionally, to engage the local community, the company announced an open house for residents to meet the project team, ask questions, and offer feedback.
This multi-billion-dollar expansion arrives at a time of rising scrutiny surrounding the environmental and economic footprints of massive AI facilities. High power demands and potential water strains have sparked local opposition elsewhere, recently prompting New York to enact a one-year moratorium on large new data center builds, the first U.S. state to do so. Also, despite these regional pushbacks, OpenAI continues to pursue CEO Sam Altman’s long-term vision of spending trillions on physical infrastructure. Lastly, the Georgia project forms part of OpenAI’s broader Stargate initiative, which encompasses major data center collaborations across Europe, the Middle East, and several U.S. states. While Stargate was initially envisioned as a joint venture with Oracle and SoftBank Group, the strategy has evolved to incorporate varying partner combinations across its global developments.
Project Factsheet
Project Name: Project Camellia
Primary Developer: OpenAI (First ground-up self-developed campus)
Power Partner and Utility: Georgia Power Company (under a 25-year agreement)
Location: Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, Rincon, Effingham County, Georgia
Campus Size: 1,400 acres within a 2,600-acre industrial park
Power Capacity: 3.2 Gigawatts (3,200 MW)
Energization Schedule: Phased power delivery starting in 2028 through 2032
Capital Investment: $20 Billion baseline commitment; $30+ Billion total cost at full 3.2 GW scale
Employment Impact: 400 to 1,000 permanent high-paying roles and thousands of construction & trade jobs
Incentive Package: 15-year 50% property tax abatement (approved by Effingham County Industrial Development Authority); OpenAI remains the county’s largest taxpayer
Project Team
Developer: OpenAI
Utility & Grid Integration Partner:
- Georgia Power Company: Primary electric utility provider delivering the 3.2 GW power capacity under a 25-year agreement. The institutions boasts a wide range of energy sources that can power such projects
Local Site Development & Economic Stakeholders:
Effingham County Industrial Development Authority (ECIDA): Governs site development agreements, land allocation, and tax incentive structures.
OmniTRAX / Broe Real Estate Group: Exclusive master developer managing industrial land sales. Also, they manage logistics infrastructure at the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub.
Effingham County Chamber of Commerce: Facilitates local workforce development, supply chain opportunities, and small business integration.
Leave a Reply