EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. — As plans for Project Camellia continue moving forward in Effingham County, new information released by the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority is addressing one of the biggest questions surrounding the proposed OpenAI data center campus: Who will pay for the massive amount of electrical infrastructure needed to serve the project?
According to information released by the ECIDA, the answer is clear: OpenAI is expected to pay for the electric infrastructure and service required for Project Camellia rather than passing those costs along to existing Georgia Power customers.
The plan also includes measures designed to make the massive technology campus more responsive to periods of high electricity demand, potentially helping protect the reliability of the broader electric grid.
OpenAI Expected to Cover Project’s Electric Infrastructure Costs
According to the ECIDA information, Georgia Public Service Commission rules require OpenAI to pay the full cost of the electric infrastructure and service needed specifically for Project Camellia.
That distinction is important for Effingham County residents and Georgia Power customers concerned that a project of this size could result in existing customers subsidizing its infrastructure.
The information provided about the project highlights several safeguards:
- Residents are not expected to pay for Project Camellia’s dedicated electric infrastructure.
- OpenAI is expected to pay the full cost of the electric infrastructure and service required by the project.
- Large-load projects must enter longer-term agreements and provide financial assurances.
- The final power contract remains subject to Georgia Public Service Commission approval.
- Project Camellia is being designed to reduce its electricity demand during periods when the power grid is under significant stress.
These protections are intended to ensure the costs associated with bringing a major new power customer onto the system remain with the project rather than existing customers.
A Data Center Designed With Grid Flexibility in Mind
Another significant aspect of the plan is how Project Camellia would operate during periods of high electricity demand.
The project is being designed to proactively reduce its power consumption during periods of high demand or grid stress.
For a facility of this size, that flexibility could be an important component of protecting reliability.
Instead of simply continuing to consume maximum amounts of electricity when the grid is experiencing its greatest demand, Project Camellia is planned to have the ability to reduce its electrical load.
The ECIDA describes the approach as putting residents first by attempting to ease pressure on the electric system before customers are affected, while still allowing the data center campus to operate reliably.
Potential Benefits Beyond Effingham County
The information released about Project Camellia also points to potential benefits for Georgia Power customers beyond Effingham County.
According to the ECIDA document, a recently approved Georgia Public Service Commission agreement is expected to save the typical Georgia Power residential customer approximately $102 per year beginning in 2029. Revenue associated with growth from large-load customers such as Project Camellia is cited as one factor contributing to those projected savings.
That represents an important part of the larger discussion surrounding major economic development projects: large electricity users can bring significant new demand, but properly structured agreements can also bring substantial new revenue into the utility system.
Up to 3.2 Gigawatts Planned at Full Buildout
Project Camellia is currently planned for up to 3.2 gigawatts of power at full buildout, illustrating the enormous scale of the proposed investment.
Development is expected to occur in phases between 2028 and 2032, with the first phase potentially becoming operational in 2028.
The final size and construction schedule remain dependent on several factors, including permitting, infrastructure development, financing, construction, community engagement and other project milestones.
A phased approach also means the entire projected electrical demand would not necessarily arrive at once.
Accountability and Community Engagement Remain Important
With a project of this magnitude, continued transparency will be important as plans progress.
According to the information released by the ECIDA, OpenAI plans to continue community engagement and provide updates as development moves forward.
The future Georgia Community Compact is also expected to include clear commitments, methods for measuring progress and an annual independent audit with publicly released results.
Those accountability measures could give residents an opportunity to follow whether commitments associated with the project are being fulfilled over time.
A Major Opportunity With Long-Term Planning
Project Camellia represents an extraordinary scale of investment for Effingham County, and questions surrounding electricity, infrastructure and the potential impact on residents are understandable for a development of this magnitude.
The latest information provides additional detail about how local and state leaders are working to structure the project so that the company creating the new demand is responsible for the infrastructure required to serve it.
Just as importantly, designing the campus to reduce its electrical load during periods of grid stress could establish an important model for how extremely large technology projects interact with the communities and utility systems around them.
For Effingham County, Project Camellia is about more than constructing a data center. It represents an opportunity to bring major technology investment into the community while establishing safeguards intended to protect existing residents and businesses.
As the project progresses toward its proposed first phase in 2028, continued public information, regulatory oversight and accountability will remain essential.
The goal outlined by local economic development officials is straightforward: Project Camellia should pay its own way, contribute to a stronger and more reliable electric system, and create long-term benefits for Effingham County without placing the project’s infrastructure costs on local families.
