State reveals full DRI report on OpenAI’s Effingham Co. data center project
A state regional impact report details OpenAI's proposed $20 billion "Project Camellia" data center in Effingham County, Georgia. The project would demand a record 3,210 megawatts of electricity and consume 30,000 gallons of water daily, with environmental reviews noting various constraints. Site plan consideration was postponed as the county prepares stricter conditional-use rules for data centers.
The Coastal Regional Commission (CRC) of Georgia has released a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) report on OpenAI's proposed "Project Camellia," a massive 1,400-acre data center campus in Effingham County. The report details an estimated $20 billion build-out value, projected to generate $20 million annually in local tax revenue and create 400 full-time jobs. Developer Octans GA LLC is seeking site plan approval for four buildings totaling 4.4 million square feet.
The project is set to become Georgia's largest single electricity consumer, with a peak demand of 3,210 megawatts from Georgia Power, surpassing the combined capacity of both new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle. Despite this, the facility is projected to use a relatively low 30,000 gallons of water daily through a closed-loop cooling system, sourced from the Effingham County Water Treatment Plant without requiring new line extensions.
State environmental reviews highlighted several physical and ecological constraints on the property, including wetlands, critical habitat, and floodplains. Environmental advocates attached comments to the report, urging strict accountability from local leaders.
Consideration of the project's site plan by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners was recently postponed at the developer's request. This delay allows the county to draft and implement stricter conditional-use rules, indicating a growing focus on regulating such large-scale developments.