Effingham County selects Charles Abbott Associates to oversee OpenAI data center project
Effingham County selected Charles Abbott Associates to oversee reviews, inspections and preconstruction work for the first phase of OpenAI's planned data center campus near Rincon. The project developer or associated company, rather than county taxpayers, will pay the firm's fees.
Effingham County commissioners unanimously selected Charles Abbott Associates to provide civil, site, building and structural reviews, preconstruction coordination and construction inspections for the first phase of a planned data center campus near Rincon. The agreement covers construction of the project's first two data center buildings and gives the firm 75% of applicable building permit and plan-review fees, along with hourly charges for engineering and land-development services.
The campus is part of OpenAI's announced $20 billion investment and would occupy about 1,440 acres near Hodgeville Road, with substations to support its electrical demand. County officials said the developer or company associated with the project will cover the oversight costs, while Effingham County will retain regulatory authority and may terminate the five-year agreement with 30 days' notice.