Residents continue pushback on OpenAI data center at latest meeting
Over 100 Effingham County residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed OpenAI data center at a recent board meeting, citing concerns about transparency, infrastructure strain, and accountability. Despite the significant public pushback, the county manager affirmed the project would proceed if it meets all legal requirements. The county is now responsible for approving preliminary site plans and a water and sewer agreement for the data center.
More than 100 residents of Effingham County, Georgia, attended a four-and-a-half-hour board meeting to express overwhelming opposition to a proposed OpenAI data center. Public comments, which lasted three hours, focused on a perceived lack of transparency, potential strain on local infrastructure, and OpenAI's accountability. Resident Raymond Carver noted the community's strong feelings, stating, "I don’t feel our community will be the same after this."
The meeting followed a visit by U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who also criticized the project's lack of transparency. The data center proposal, which includes a 50% tax incentive package brokered by the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, was announced to residents' surprise on July 22. Outside the meeting, the Protect Effingham Alliance organized picketing, and an attendee was escorted out after shouting objections during a presentation.
Effingham County Manager Tim Callanan stated that the project would proceed if it meets all federal, state, and local ordinances, despite resident opposition. The county is now tasked with approving preliminary site plans and a water and sewer agreement. The incentive package includes a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) plan, which is expected to generate $27 million in revenue for the county by 2032 and is part of the county's "Project Zero" to eliminate residential property taxes.
District 2 Commissioner Roger Burdette, a proponent of the project, apologized for the lack of transparency in the planning process, acknowledging it was a mistake not to inform the community sooner. The county had been in discussions regarding infrastructure for the project since January 2026.