Effingham County, GA
Project Camellia
OpenAI. Approved. 3200 MW.
OpenAI announced Project Camellia on July 22, 2026, a four building AI data center campus on about 101 acres within the 2,600 acre Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub just outside Rincon, representing at least 20 billion dollars in investment. Georgia Power will supply up to 3.2 gigawatts of power delivered in phases between 2028 and 2032, the campus will use a closed loop cooling system that OpenAI says will not draw from local water supplies, and Effingham County approved a 50 percent property tax abatement for 15 years along with an 80 million dollar community benefits fund. Some Effingham residents have voiced concern about the scale and pace of the project despite the incentives.
- Status
- Approved
- Operator
- OpenAI
- Applicant on record
- OpenAI
- Location
- Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, near Rincon, Effingham County, GA (approximate, city center)
- Size
- 3200 MW, 101 acres
- Cooling
- Closed loop (low water)
- Utility
- Georgia Power
- First reported
- 2026-07-22
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Sources
- $20 billion OpenAI data center to open in Effingham County, The Current, 2026-07-22
- OpenAI plans 3.2GW data center campus in Effingham County, Georgia, Data Center Dynamics
- OpenAI data center project sparks outrage among Effingham County residents, The Current, 2026-07-23
What it would mean nearby
Base rate freeze through 2028 (docket 44280) holds base rates flat from July 2025. Fuel and storm riders are separate and can still move. 2026 fuel and storm cost settlement (docket 44280, 56765) takes about $4.04 a month off a typical bill from June 2026. The December 2025 certification of about 9,885 MW of new generation for data center load came with a promise of at least $8.50 a month of downward pressure on a typical bill in 2029 through 2031, because large customers are meant to carry more of the cost. Consumer groups warned it could instead add around $20 a month if the projected data center demand does not show up.
For a noise estimate and the three distance rings, check your own address.
Is it near you?
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