Effingham County
1 data center project, 1 scorecard row
3.2 GW disclosed across 1 project. A rating belongs to the scorecard row for this county; the events beneath it are what it rests on.
Last verified
- Projects on the record
- 1
- waiting on permits
- 1
- How much power is disclosed
- 3.2 GW
- What officials said
- 0 statements
- Sources read here
- 0
Every figure above is computed from the records on this page at build time. Power is summed only where a project disclosed it; nothing is estimated.
What has been disclosed in Effingham County
| Figure | Disclosed total | Disclosed | Not disclosed | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 3.2 GW | 1 | 0 | 1 the developer's figure |
| Water, stated per day | Not disclosed | 0 | 1 | |
| Water, stated per year | Not disclosed | 0 | 1 | |
| Permanent jobs | Not disclosed | 0 | 1 | |
| Tax each year | Not disclosed | 0 | 1 |
Summed only where a record disclosed the figure; a record with no figure adds nothing and is counted as not disclosed. Water is summed per day and per year separately, as the sources stated it, and never converted. A tax claim given as a range is summed at both ends. Nothing here is modeled or estimated by the record.
By what the facilities are for
| Use | Records | Power | Water | Jobs | Tax each year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not disclosed | 1 | 3.2 GW | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
A record that lists several uses counts once under each. Each cell is the sum over the records with that use, disclosed rows only.
What the facilities are for
No source on file states what any of the 1 tracked facility in Effingham Countyis for. The use is recorded as not disclosed until one does.
Projects
- waiting on permitsOpenAI Effingham County Data Center
OpenAI is planning a large data center in Effingham County, Georgia, for which Georgia Power received approval for a 3.2 GW power deal, and which faces a citizen-led zoning lawsuit and questions about water and electric bill impacts.
No projects with that status.
Effingham County, year by year
On the record as of September 8, 2026.
The chart counts what is on the record: 1 published project in Effingham County, with 49 dated events, 4 of them jurisdiction actions. A project counts in a year by the status its history shows at the end of that year, and its capacity, water and noise figures are the ones disclosed for it now, applied to every year it is on the record. Capacity is summed only where a source disclosed it; the count of projects without a disclosed figure sits beside every sum. A year with nothing on it has nothing on the record yet, which is not the same as nothing having happened.
2026 1 project on the record at year end, 49 events
At the end of 2026
- Operational
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Under construction
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Announced, proposed, permitting or approved
- 1 project, 3.2 GW disclosed
Capacity, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 1 project on the record.
Water, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 1 project on the record.
Noise, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 1 project on the record.
Events in 2026
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : The site is located just outside of Rincon in Effingham County Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Data center is scheduled to open in phases starting in 2028 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI data center will comprise four buildings at Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : 25-year agreement with Georgia Power Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI announced plans for a new project in Effingham County, Georgia, about 45 minutes outside of Savannah Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Site is located at Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, approximately 12 miles northwest of the Port of Savannah Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Construction is expected to begin in 2028 and finish by 2032, with operations planned from 2028; project discussions began in November 2023 (dates also on WTOC and the county video, card 3925) Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Campus will cover more than 1,400 acres on McCall Road in Effingham County Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 22, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI proposes a $20 billion data center campus in Effingham County Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Effingham County Industrial Development Authority was initially approached about the data center around fall 2025 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI promises $80 million in community benefits including sports fields and free training for school students Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI will receive short-term tax abatements during construction and become the county's largest taxpayer after opening in 2028 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI data center project covers 2,600 acres at Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI data center project in Effingham County announced without any public comment or vote Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Nearly 1,000 people attended an open house on July 23, 2026 about the $20 billion OpenAI data center project in Effingham County Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Site is next to a high school and less than a mile from a park Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Under a 25-year agreement, OpenAI agreed to cut up to 1,000 megawatts during peak demand to help grid reliability Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 23, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project Camellia covers about 1,400 acres inside Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub with four buildings and $20 billion price tag Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 25, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : County must wait until DRI process complete before initiating engineering reviews, fire and stormwater plans, or noise level evaluations Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 25, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Georgia Coastal Regional Commission must evaluate project in no more than 30 days Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 25, 2026 (content date) Filingwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : DRI form submitted July 23, 2026 by Effingham County Senior Planner Kimberly Barlett with blank spaces for water usage, energy supply, and environmental impacts Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 25, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project Camellia must undergo Georgia Developments of Regional Impact process before construction can begin Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 28, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Savannah Gateway property has been zoned industrial since 2006 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 28, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Agreement gave Broe and OmniTRAX authority as sole and exclusive agent, attorney-in-fact and master developer of nearly 2,600 acres of ECIDA-owned land Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 28, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : In February 2016, ECIDA board voted 7-1 to partner with OmniTRAX in collaboration with Broe Real Estate Group as master developer Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 28, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : ECIDA purchased the property near Rincon in 2006 from International Paper for about $31 million Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 28, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project announced July 22 followed by public information open house July 23 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 28, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project Camellia is a planned 1,400-acre data center campus at the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 29, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project has multi-year five-phase timeline with first phase targeted to begin construction by late 2028 and entire project completed by end of 2034 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- July 29, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : County records show the Special Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement gives OpenAI a 37.5 percent annual property tax reduction, assessing the property at 25 percent of fair market value instead of the standard 40 percent, locked at the 2026 millage rate for 15 years Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 2, 2026 (content date) Otherproposed OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI planned $20 billion data center campus with 4.4 million square feet in Effingham County Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 3, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project planned for phased development between 2028 and 2032 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 3, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : 1,440-acre data center campus with four buildings and combined footprint of 720,000 square feet Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 3, 2026 (content date) Approvalapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Effingham County Industrial Development Authority approved incentive package for OpenAI data center on July 21, 2026 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 6, 2026 (content date) Otherapproved OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI data center planned for Effingham County Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 7, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project Camellia has cleared initial hurdles through the county's development authority Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 11, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Site will operate a closed-loop cooling system to continuously recycle the same water instead of relying on evaporative methods Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 11, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Agreement mandates that developers draw only from treated surface rivers rather than underground groundwater Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 12, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Georgia Power entered into a 25-year agreement with OpenAI to provide 3.2 gigawatts of electricity Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 24, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI announced the project in July with a proposed $20 billion data center campus Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 24, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Project Camellia covers approximately 1,400 acres and could require up to 3.2 gigawatts of power Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- August 29, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : OpenAI announced a $20 billion data center in Effingham County Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- September 2, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : The free meal program is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- September 2, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : Campus is 1,400 acres Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- September 2, 2026 (content date) Otherwaiting on permits OpenAI Effingham County Data Center : The Development Authority and OpenAI began their conversations in October Source, query feed . Developer OpenAI
- September 3, 2026 (content date) Lawsuit Effingham County (jurisdiction): Three Effingham County residents filed a lawsuit September 2 challenging Ordinance 2026-352, which county commissioners gave final approval August 4 Source, query feed
- September 3, 2026 (content date) Other Effingham County (jurisdiction): Ordinance 2026-352 changed county zoning rules to allow data centers on property already zoned for industrial use Source, query feed
- September 3, 2026 (content date) Other Effingham County (jurisdiction): Plaintiffs allege the county failed to follow state law and its own zoning rules by not holding required public hearings before approving the ordinance Source, query feed
- September 3, 2026 (content date) Other Effingham County (jurisdiction): The county's zoning ordinance requires two public hearings before action can be taken on a zoning change, one before the Planning Board and another before the County Commission Source, query feed
2025 0 projects on the record at year end, 0 events
At the end of 2025
- Operational
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Under construction
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Announced, proposed, permitting or approved
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
Capacity, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Water, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Noise, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Events in 2025
No dated event on the record in 2025.
2024 0 projects on the record at year end, 0 events
At the end of 2024
- Operational
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Under construction
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Announced, proposed, permitting or approved
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
Capacity, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Water, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Noise, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Events in 2024
No dated event on the record in 2024.
2023 0 projects on the record at year end, 0 events
At the end of 2023
- Operational
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Under construction
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
- Announced, proposed, permitting or approved
- 0 projects, 0 MW disclosed
Capacity, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Water, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Noise, by how it was disclosed
Not disclosed for any of the 0 projects on the record.
Events in 2023
No dated event on the record in 2023.
Scorecard
- Effingham Countycounty
- September 3, 2026 (content date)ordinance
The county's zoning ordinance requires two public hearings before action can be taken on a zoning change, one before the Planning Board and another before the County Commission
- September 3, 2026 (content date)ordinance
Plaintiffs allege the county failed to follow state law and its own zoning rules by not holding required public hearings before approving the ordinance
- September 3, 2026 (content date)ordinance
Ordinance 2026-352 changed county zoning rules to allow data centers on property already zoned for industrial use
- September 3, 2026 (content date)ordinance
Three Effingham County residents filed a lawsuit September 2 challenging Ordinance 2026-352, which county commissioners gave final approval August 4
- September 3, 2026 (content date)ordinance
Cite this page
Data Center Record, "Data center records in Effingham County, Georgia", https://datacenterrecord.org/states/ga/effingham-county. Data: Data Center Record, datacenterrecord.org, CC BY 4.0.
The structured rows are CC BY 4.0. Link to this page; that is what turns a reuse into a citation. Prose stays under copyright.
The rows here are part of the Georgia export. Know of a filing, docket or project in Effingham County that is missing? Send a tip.
For researchers
- Place id
- us/ga/effingham-county
- Level
- county
- Census GEOID
- Not disclosed
- Rating value
- orange