Updated · The Atlanta Journal Constitution · Aug 2
OpenAI Hid $20 Billion Georgia Data Center Plan on 4.4 Million Square Feet
Updated
Updated · The Atlanta Journal Constitution · Aug 2
OpenAI Hid $20 Billion Georgia Data Center Plan on 4.4 Million Square Feet
3 articles · Updated · The Atlanta Journal Constitution · Aug 2
Summary
OpenAI quietly assembled plans for a $20 billion data center campus in Effingham County, Georgia, leaving many residents and some local officials blindsided when details surfaced.
NDAs and closed-door negotiations helped keep the project secret, a common tactic officials said is used to avoid public backlash, land-price spikes and disruptions before major industrial deals are finalized.
1,400 acres near Savannah already fit county zoning after a 2024 ordinance update broadened permitted industrial uses, allowing the 4.4 million-square-foot campus to move forward without a rezoning fight.
County leaders argue the project will diversify the tax base with a PILOT agreement, add relatively high-paying jobs and generate less truck traffic, noise and road wear than warehouses or heavy manufacturing.
Power and water remain the central concern: the campus is expected to draw massive electricity from Georgia's grid and use millions of gallons in a closed-loop cooling system as state reviews continue ahead of possible 2027 construction.
Why was a $20 billion mega-campus negotiated in secret, and who truly pays for its massive energy demands?
Can a closed-loop cooling system protect local water supplies when the facility requires a staggering 3.2 gigawatts of electricity?
OpenAI’s 3.2 GW Georgia Data Center: Economic Boon or Environmental Risk? The Battle Over America’s Largest AI Hub
Overview
In July 2026, OpenAI announced Project Camellia, a record-breaking 3.2-gigawatt AI data center in Georgia, secured by a 25-year power deal and major local tax incentives. This unprecedented scale is driven by the soaring power needs of generative AI, which are straining local grids and prompting phased, gigawatt-scale deployments and new grid expansions. However, the project’s secretive approval process sparked strong local protests and distrust, leading OpenAI to shift toward active community engagement and direct support. Meanwhile, public backlash over utility costs and environmental impacts has led states like New York to enact moratoriums on large data centers, highlighting growing national tensions.