OpenAI Project Camellia: AI Infrastructure Development in Effingham County

OpenAI has announced Project Camellia, a long-term datacenter development project located in Effingham County, Georgia. The project aims to build critical computing infrastructure to accelerate AI development while providing economic benefits and infrastructure protections for the local community.

Power Infrastructure and Grid Reliability

Project Camellia will be powered by a 3.2 gigawatt (GW) contract with Georgia Power Company, with delivery scheduled in phases between 2028 and 2032.

To ensure the project does not negatively impact local residents, OpenAI has made the following commitments regarding electricity:

• Rate Protection: Electricity rates for residents will not increase due to this project. OpenAI will cover the full cost of the infrastructure and electric-service costs.
• Grid Support: The datacenter is designed to proactively reduce power consumption during periods of high demand to support the reliability of the Georgia Power electric system and prevent residential impact.

Environmental and Water Management

Project Camellia will utilize a closed-loop water system to minimize environmental impact. This system recirculates water similarly to a car radiator, reducing the need for continuous withdrawal and discharge.

OpenAI states that the project will not divert water from local communities. Ongoing water requirements will be limited to standard workplace needs—such as restrooms, kitchens, and sanitation—comparable to the project's employee count in a typical office building.

Community Investment and Economic Impact

OpenAI has committed to a series of financial and educational investments to support Effingham County and the broader Georgia region:

Direct Community Benefits

• Financial Contribution: OpenAI will provide $80 million in community benefits over the life of the project. These funds will be directed toward local priorities including schools, public safety, healthcare, utilities, workforce training, housing, and veterans' services.
• Tax Revenue: The project is expected to be the largest taxpayer in the county, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local tax revenue.
• Employment: The project will create thousands of construction and permanent on-site jobs, with a priority placed on local contractors and businesses.

Educational Credits for Codex

• Student Support: OpenAI will provide up to $71 million in credits for Codex, its agentic coding tool available within ChatGPT.
• Eligibility: Eligible students at Georgia colleges, community colleges, and technical schools can receive $100 in credits to gain hands-on experience with agentic AI and develop skills for careers in engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

Project Governance and Accountability

To ensure adherence to these commitments, OpenAI will implement the following accountability measures:

• Independent Audits: An annual publicly available audit conducted by an independent firm will be released to verify the project meets its commitments.
• Georgia Community Compact: OpenAI is developing a "Georgia Community Compact" to memorialize commitments and translate community priorities into specific accountability measures.

Site Selection and Strategic Importance

The project is located within the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, a pre-existing industrially-zoned warehouse project. OpenAI notes that Project Camellia is expected to generate less traffic and use less water than a warehouse project on the same site, while providing higher long-term tax revenue and more durable employment.

This project is part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic AI infrastructure in the United States, following the establishment of a first campus in Abilene, Texas, which is currently training frontier models at scale.