OpenAI announces plans for a new data center in Effingham County
OpenAI has announced plans for a $20 billion data center campus in Effingham County, Georgia, spanning 1400 acres and including four buildings. The project is expected to significantly impact the local tax base and create numerous jobs. OpenAI addressed concerns regarding water usage and the impact on Georgia Power's electrical grid, claiming the project will have low environmental impact through a closed-loop water system.
OpenAI has announced plans for a new $20 billion data center development in Effingham County, Georgia. The project is slated to include a campus roughly 1400 acres in size with four buildings.
Local leaders, including Effingham's Industrial Development Authority and the school district, who are joint-partners in the plan, believe the project could significantly reshape the county's tax base and accelerate "Project Zero," a plan to cut county property taxes for qualifying residents. The data center campus will be located in the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub.
Addressing potential concerns, OpenAI's team, including Chief of Global Affairs Chris Lehane, provided responses regarding water usage, electrical bills, and environmental impacts. They claim the plan keeps their impacts low by utilizing a closed-loop system that recirculates water rather than withdrawing and discharging large amounts. OpenAI also stated the project will not negatively affect residents' electric bills or the reliability of Georgia Power's grid. The company anticipates working with local businesses for construction and development, expecting to bring hundreds, potentially thousands, of long-term, high-paying jobs to Effingham County, and is exploring apprenticeship programs with local high school and technical school systems.