OpenAI announces 3.2 GW Project Camellia data center plan in Effingham County, Georgia

OpenAI announces Project Camellia in Georgia

OpenAI announced Project Camellia, a planned AI data center development in Effingham County, Georgia, as part of its broader effort to build computing infrastructure in the United States.

In a post published by OpenAI, the company said the project will be located in the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub and will be developed over several years. OpenAI said it has contracted with Georgia Power for 3.2 gigawatts of electricity, delivered in phases between 2028 and 2032.

Georgia Power separately said in a PR Newswire release that it will serve the OpenAI project under a 25-year agreement. The utility said the project is expected to require about 3,200 megawatts and provide up to 1,000 megawatts of flexible demand response.

Data Center Dynamics also reported that OpenAI plans a 3.2 GW data center campus in Effingham County, with Georgia Power delivering energy from 2028 to 2032.

Power commitments and grid flexibility

OpenAI framed the Georgia project as a long-term infrastructure investment designed to support growing AI workloads. The company said Project Camellia will include energy commitments intended to protect existing Georgia Power customers and support the local grid.

According to Georgia Power, the agreement includes up to 1,000 MW of flexible demand response. Demand response generally allows large electricity users to reduce or shift power usage during periods of grid stress, though the detailed operating terms of the OpenAI agreement were not fully described in the public releases.

OpenAI also said the project includes commitments aimed at ensuring that existing Georgia Power customers are not left paying for costs caused by the development. Georgia Power said the project remains subject to regulatory review by the Georgia Public Service Commission.

Water use, jobs and local programs

OpenAI said Project Camellia is being planned with a focus on limiting water use. The company said the site will use closed-loop cooling, a design intended to reduce ongoing water consumption compared with systems that rely heavily on evaporative cooling.

The company also said the project is expected to create jobs, including construction and operations roles. OpenAI did not provide a single final job total in the supplied announcement, but it described the development as a long-term source of local employment and related economic activity.

OpenAI said it plans to invest in local programs in Effingham County and the surrounding region. The company’s stated commitments include support for schools, workforce development and community organizations.

As part of the announcement, OpenAI said it will provide access to Codex, its AI coding tool, for local students and educators. The company positioned that offer as part of a broader effort to connect the infrastructure project with local education and workforce opportunities.

A major AI infrastructure buildout in the Southeast

Project Camellia adds Georgia to the list of U.S. regions preparing for very large AI-related power demand. The 3.2 GW figure cited by OpenAI and Georgia Power is substantial even by hyperscale data center standards, and the phased 2028-to-2032 timeline indicates that the project is intended to unfold over multiple years rather than come online all at once.

The announcement also highlights the growing role of utilities and regulators in AI infrastructure planning. Georgia Power said the agreement is designed to support a large new load while incorporating demand-response capacity. OpenAI said its plan includes commitments on energy, water, jobs and community investment.

The public materials do not specify which AI systems will run at the site, the total cost of the project, or the final construction schedule. Those details may depend on permitting, regulatory approval, power delivery milestones and future development decisions.