As Effingham County data center plan advances, next step is state evaluation process
OpenAI plans to build a $20 billion data center in Effingham County, Georgia, but key details regarding its environmental impact, water usage, and energy supply remain undisclosed as the project undergoes a state-level Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) evaluation. The proposed facility faces significant local opposition, with a petition garnering over 10,000 signatures, despite assurances from county officials and OpenAI regarding its economic benefits and environmental mitigation efforts.
OpenAI has formalized an agreement to construct a massive $20 billion data center, dubbed Project Camellia, in Effingham County, Georgia. This 1,400-acre facility, slated for the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub by 2028, is now entering the state's Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) evaluation process.
Despite months of planning and an official agreement, fundamental details regarding the project's water usage, energy supply, and potential environmental impacts remain largely opaque. The Effingham County Senior Planner, Kimberly Barlett, submitted the DRI form with these sections left blank, awaiting feedback from the state's Coastal Regional Commission before OpenAI prepares a formal site plan.
The project faces considerable local opposition, with a petition against the data center accumulating over 10,000 signatures. Residents and elected officials have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, with decisions largely made through closed-door negotiations. County Manager Tim Callanan, along with other officials, visited an operational OpenAI data center in Abilene, Texas, to address concerns about noise and water systems, which are planned to be closed-loop in Effingham.
Politically, the project highlights a growing divide; Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp supports data center growth for economic development, while Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock has urged the EPA to provide guidance on water management for data centers, citing drought concerns. While the parcels are already zoned for data centers, discussions have focused on environmental buffers and fire safety, and county officials do not anticipate significant hurdles in the site permit approvals.