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OpenAI Promises No Higher Power Bills for New Georgia Data Center

OpenAI is trying a new strategy to win over communities wary of massive AI data centers. Instead of bulldozing ahead, the company is asking for support—and making some bold promises.

On July 23, Business Insider reported that OpenAI launched "Project Camellia," a plan to build a data center campus on about 567 hectares of rural land in Effingham County, near Savannah, Georgia. The price tag? At least $2 billion. The electricity demand? A whopping 3.2 gigawatts.

Listening Before Building

OpenAI says its team has already talked with state and local officials, community leaders, and schools. They've listened to concerns and plan to hold public meetings. The company believes early engagement is the right way to build trust—especially since the project is still in early development, with plenty of work left on infrastructure, design, financing, and operations.

Effingham County Commissioner Jamie Drollinger confirmed that the team faced sharp questions. But he also noted that OpenAI addressed key worries: the project will use very little water, won't increase energy costs for residents, and will bring new tax revenue to support schools and local businesses.

Four Key Commitments

OpenAI has outlined four promises aimed at the issues that often spark neighborhood resistance:

  1. No higher electricity bills for local residents. Georgia families won't bear the cost—OpenAI will cover all infrastructure and electricity service fees.
  2. Extremely low water usage thanks to a closed-loop water system.
  3. Peak-time power reduction: The campus will be among the first data centers that can actively cut their own power consumption during peak hours, avoiding impacts on residential users.
  4. Community investment: Over the entire operation cycle, OpenAI plans to contribute $80 million to the community and provide $71 million in Codex usage credits for students at eligible Georgia universities, community colleges, and technical schools. Each qualified student can get a $100 Codex credit through their own ChatGPT account.

Keeping Promises

To ensure these aren't empty words, an independent institution will audit OpenAI's compliance every year and make the results public.

Once fully completed, the campus is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and over 1,000 long-term operational positions. A power supply contract has already been signed with Georgia Power, with the campus set to be powered in phases from 2028 to 2032.

By placing computing power in the countryside, OpenAI is clearly trying to win hearts and minds first.

Key Points

  • OpenAI's Project Camellia is a $2 billion data center campus on 567 hectares in rural Georgia.
  • The company promises no increase in local electricity bills and extremely low water usage.
  • OpenAI will contribute $80 million to the community and $71 million in Codex credits for students.
  • An independent auditor will verify compliance annually.
  • The campus is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and over 1,000 permanent positions.