OpenAI details Project Camellia data center with $80M community plan

OpenAINewsroom · x · 2026-07-22

OpenAI says it is developing Project Camellia, a long-term AI infrastructure project in Effingham County, Georgia.

OpenAI says Georgia families will not subsidize the project; it will cover all infrastructure and electric-service costs.
The site is designed with closed-loop cooling, with water use expected to be comparable to a similar-size office building once fully built.
OpenAI expects thousands of construction and permanent on-site jobs, along with hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local tax revenue.
The company will provide $80 million in community benefits over the project’s life, plus up to $71 million in Codex credits for eligible Georgia students.
An annual independent public audit and ongoing local outreach are planned to keep the project accountable.

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