How OpenAI project moved forward without public input
OpenAI's planned $20 billion data center in Effingham County, Georgia, has sparked public outrage due to a lack of transparency regarding its development process. Residents expressed feeling blindsided by the announcement, which followed years of confidential agreements between the county's Development Authority and master developers. The project is currently undergoing site plan review and a Development of Regional Impact application.
The article, "How OpenAI project moved forward without public input," from Bryan County News, details the public outcry surrounding OpenAI's recently announced $20 billion "Project Camellia" data center campus in Effingham County, Georgia. Residents expressed feeling "blindsided" by the project, which involves a 1,400-acre site at the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, because it progressed significantly without public knowledge or meetings. A public information open house held the day after the July 22 announcement was dominated by transparency concerns.
The lack of public involvement is attributed to decisions made over two decades. The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority acquired the land in 2006 and, in 2016, entered a 75-year agreement with OmniTRAX and Broe Real Estate Group, making them master developers with broad authority to market and develop the property. This agreement allowed the master developer to execute contracts and agreements without transparency, and individual projects are then submitted to Effingham County through a site plan review process. Additionally, the Development Authority signed a nondisclosure agreement with OpenAI, a common practice in site selection, which prohibited public discussion before the official announcement.
Effingham County Manager Tim Callanan explained that the county's role is limited, as the Savannah Gateway property has been zoned for industrial development since 2006. County commissioners did approve a "Table of Permitted Uses" in 2025, specifically listing data centers as a permitted use in industrial zones, a classification that likely would have applied even without the explicit listing. Brandt Herndon, CEO of the Development Authority, defended the process, citing inherited agreements and the need for confidentiality in economic development.
The Authority also approved a 50% property tax abatement for OpenAI over 15 years, approved the evening before the public announcement, which further fueled resident frustration. Herndon stated this incentive was to protect the Effingham County School System's state funding and provide a long-term financial benefit. The project is currently undergoing a Development of Regional Impact application review, with a site plan expected to be submitted to the county for consideration by the Board of Commissioners. OpenAI officials, including Chief Policy Officer Chris Lehane, have indicated a willingness to seek community input as the project proceeds.