OpenAI Announces $20 Billion Project Camellia Data Center in Georgia

OpenAI plans to construct a massive artificial intelligence data center campus in Effingham County, Georgia, known as Project Camellia. Located within the 1,400-acre Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub in Rincon, the project marks the first facility the company will design and build itself. Investment estimates range from $20 billion to $30 billion, with construction phased between 2028 and 2032. The campus will utilize 3.2 gigawatts of power contracted through Georgia Power and is expected to create up to 1,000 permanent jobs and thousands of construction roles.

To secure the project, the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority approved a 15-year, 50% property tax abatement. Local officials believe the resulting tax revenue could fund Project Zero, an initiative to eliminate county homestead property taxes as early as next year, potentially reducing homeowner bills by 40%. To address community concerns, OpenAI pledged $80 million for local priorities, $71 million in Codex credits for Georgia students, and the use of a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water impact.

Internal developments show OpenAI has increased its total infrastructure budget to $750 billion through 2030, following the stagnation of the Stargate initiative. However, CFO Sarah Friar has expressed concerns regarding the company's ability to fund these contracts without accelerated revenue growth. While local leaders call the project transformational, the Southern Environmental Law Center has urged greater scrutiny over the facility's enormous electricity demand and environmental impact. OpenAI and county officials held a public open house on July 23, 2026, to discuss the timeline and infrastructure requirements.