Project Camellia AI Data Center Campus Savannah Gateway Effingham County OpenAI

Status: Proposed / Utility Approved & Local Zoning Review Phase   |   Location: Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub (1,440-acre site), Effingham County, GA 31326, USA

Project Overview

Project Camellia is a proposed 3.2 GW ultra-hyperscale AI data center campus spanning approximately 1,440 acres within the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub in Effingham County, Georgia, positioning it among the largest planned AI infrastructure developments in the United States. Developed by OpenAI, the project represents an initial capital commitment of at least $20 billion, with total investment potentially exceeding $30 billion at full buildout. The development is notable as OpenAI's first flagship project in which the company serves as the principal designer and developer, giving it a direct role in shaping the infrastructure required for its expanding AI computing needs. The master plan includes four major data halls covering more than 100 acres of building footprint, creating a large-scale platform for high-density AI workloads and future computing expansion. A central infrastructure advantage is the project's 25-year utility agreement with Georgia Power, which is planned to provide up to 3,200 MW of power in phases between 2028 and 2032. This long-term power commitment provides a dedicated foundation for the campus while allowing capacity to be brought online progressively alongside construction and equipment deployment. Given the enormous electricity requirements associated with frontier AI systems, the development also incorporates up to 1,000 MW of flexible demand-response capability, allowing portions of the campus's electricity demand to be adjusted when necessary to help protect local grid stability. This energy strategy is particularly significant because the project combines exceptionally high computing demand with a long-term approach to managing its impact on the surrounding power network. The 1,440-acre site provides substantial room for data halls, electrical infrastructure, supporting facilities and future expansion across multiple development phases. Its location within the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub also places the campus within an established industrial environment with access to regional transportation and utility infrastructure. By combining 3.2 GW of planned capacity, up to $30 billion in potential investment, four major data halls, a 25-year power agreement and flexible demand-response capabilities, Project Camellia represents a new scale of AI infrastructure development. The project could significantly expand Georgia's role in the U.S. AI computing ecosystem while demonstrating how ultra-large data center campuses can integrate long-term power procurement and demand management into their development strategy.

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