Open AI comes to Effingham
OpenAI announced plans for a $20 billion data center campus, Project Camellia, in Effingham County, sparking strong public concern over transparency and lack of prior public meetings. Residents felt blindsided by the announcement, questioning the development process which was largely handled through a 2016 agreement with master developers and a confidentiality agreement with OpenAI. The project will now undergo site plan review and additional public meetings are planned to address community input.
OpenAI has announced plans for Project Camellia, a $20 billion data center campus spanning 1,400 acres at the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub in Effingham County, Georgia. The announcement on July 22, followed by a public information open house, was met with significant public backlash due to a lack of transparency and prior public engagement.
Residents, including Rincon's Diane Kreinbrink, expressed feeling blindsided and questioned how a project of this scale progressed so far without public knowledge. The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority (ECIDA) CEO Brandt Herndon explained that the process was shaped by decisions made over two decades, including the ECIDA's 2006 land purchase, a 2016 development agreement with OmniTRAX and Broe Real Estate Group naming them master developers, and a nondisclosure agreement with OpenAI. These agreements gave the master developers broad authority and kept the project confidential during site selection.
Effingham County Manager Tim Callanan noted that the property has been zoned for industrial development since 2006, and data centers were specifically listed as a permitted use in light and heavy industrial zoning districts through unanimous county commissioner approvals in January and April 2025. This meant the project did not require a rezoning or change in use classification. OpenAI officials, including Chief Policy Officer Chris Lehane, have expressed a willingness to engage with the community and earn trust as the project moves forward.
Further steps include a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) application and the submission of the project's site plan for county review, with additional public meetings anticipated. The ECIDA also approved a 15-year, 50% property tax abatement for OpenAI the evening before the public announcement, aiming to provide long-term financial benefits and protect school system taxes.