Effingham County residents question commissioner on secret OpenAI data center project

Effingham County, Georgia, residents voiced strong opposition and frustration at a heated public meeting regarding a proposed $20 billion OpenAI data center project. Larry Holloway and Scott Gordy, two retirees and long-time residents, confronted their District Two County Commissioner Roger Burdette, accusing officials of a lack of transparency and making decisions behind closed doors.

The residents expressed concerns about the massive data center's impact on their rural way of life, potential noise pollution, and the perceived prioritization of powerful interests over the community. Commissioner Burdette defended the project, stating that the land in the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub was already zoned for industrial use, including data centers, and that the county commissioners had no direct vote on the deal, which was handled by Effingham's Industrial Development Authority.

Burdette highlighted potential benefits, such as the elimination of property taxes and OpenAI becoming the county's largest taxpayer, investing in schools and community, paying for electricity infrastructure, and using minimal water. However, residents were skeptical, especially after Burdette disclosed that OpenAI had paid for his visit to a data center during negotiations. The conversation also touched upon neighboring Bulloch County's consideration of a data center moratorium, suggesting a broader regional concern. The encounter concluded with residents threatening to vote out Burdette in the upcoming November election due to the lack of public input and transparency.