Belmont Glen faces a new neighbor: an OpenAI data center
Residents in Belmont Glen, Effingham County, Georgia, are actively opposing Project Camellia, a 1,400-acre OpenAI data center campus planned across from their subdivision. Concerns include noise, light pollution, traffic, power grid strain from a 3.2-gigawatt demand, and potential health impacts. Residents have filed a lawsuit against the county over a 2025 zoning change that permitted data centers.
Residents of the Belmont Glen subdivision in Guyton, Effingham County, Georgia, are raising significant concerns about Project Camellia, a 1,400-acre OpenAI data center campus planned for the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, directly across from their homes and two elementary schools.
Led by residents like Raymond Carver and Elizabeth Fisher, the opposition cites worries about noise and light pollution, increased construction traffic, and the enormous 3.2-gigawatt energy demand on the local power grid, which necessitates a new 500kV transmission line. The project's proximity to residential areas and schools has also prompted fears about potential health impacts from constant operation of heavy electrical and cooling equipment, as well as low-frequency electromagnetic fields. Many residents, who moved to the area for its rural tranquility, feel the data center is an inappropriate neighbor, despite the land being industrially zoned prior to their home purchases.
Carver and others have filed a lawsuit against Effingham County, challenging a 2025 zoning change that permitted data centers in the area. County officials, including Manager Tim Callanan and Commissioner Roger Burdette, acknowledge residents' concerns but contend the industrial land was designated as such first and argue a data center represents a 'lighter industrial use' compared to potential logistics or asphalt plants. The site plan approval for the project has been delayed by 45 days as county officials seek additional information, including water and sewer agreements.
OpenAI has committed to mitigation measures, including a closed-loop cooling system, no onsite diesel generators, a 300-foot buffer, an existing berm, and an acoustic wall. They are also conducting a sound study. These commitments are expected to be formalized through a new data-center ordinance or development agreement, which the Effingham County commissioners discussed recently. Despite these assurances and potential tax benefits, residents remain skeptical about transparency and the impact on property values, with some already listing their homes for sale.