'No agreements', between Effingham County and OpenAI, officials say
Effingham County officials addressed public concerns regarding a proposed OpenAI data center, clarifying that no formal agreements have been signed, only a zoning verification letter issued. Residents, some opposing the project, expressed frustration over the lack of communication, with one commissioner advocating for a public discussion.
Effingham County Commissioners faced a large and concerned audience at their recent meeting, where they proactively addressed circulating rumors regarding a proposed data center by OpenAI. Despite the project not being on the official agenda, county leaders felt compelled to clarify the situation due to significant public interest and social media discussions.
Chairman Damon Ron explicitly stated that the county has only issued a zoning verification letter to OpenAI and that no formal agreements or nondisclosure agreements have been signed. This contradicts an earlier statement from an OpenAI spokesperson at a previous open house, who had described the project as a "done deal." Chairman Ron encouraged anyone suspecting official wrongdoing to report it to law enforcement.
Many residents attended the meeting, with some wearing shirts to show their opposition to the data center. Public comment on the data center was not permitted since it wasn't on the agenda, leading to frustration among attendees. One resident expressed feeling "worse" after learning there were no NDAs, implying a deliberate lack of communication rather than legal restrictions.
Commissioner Beth Fami advocated for scheduling a public discussion date where residents and officials could openly talk about the data center proposal, acknowledging the need for direct engagement with the community.