FAQs and Documents

A: The project is planned to use a closed-loop water system that recirculates water rather than continuously withdrawing and discharging large additional volumes. It works like a car radiator and is designed to keep ongoing water use low. The initial water supply would be sourced in a way designed not to affect community water needs, and the project would not rely on local public water supplies for ongoing cooling. Once fully built, the project is expected to employ thousands of people. Ongoing water use will primarily support ordinary workplace needs, such as sinks, restrooms, kitchens, sanitation, and maintenance, and is expected to be comparable to that of other workplaces with a similar number of employees. OpenAI also plans to share water-usage data publicly.

A: A closed-loop cooling system continuously recirculates the same water and does not rely on evaporation to provide cooling. As a result, routine water use is minimal. Following the initial system fill, additional water is generally needed only to replace small losses associated with maintenance, sampling, air removal, or occasional leaks. The frequency and amount depend on the size of the system and operating conditions, but makeup water is expected to represent a small fraction of the original system fill, rather than a continuous or recurring daily water demand.

A: The 30,000-gallon-per-day figure in the project's Development of Regional Impact filing is a conservative planning estimate for recurring water demand, primarily ordinary workplace uses such as sinks, restrooms, kitchens, cleaning, and sanitation. It does not include the one-time initial fill of the closed-loop cooling system. That initial fill and the project's final ongoing annual demand are still being determined through final design and water-service planning and will be disclosed when finalized.

A: The system is initially flushed, cleaned, and filled during construction and commissioning. After startup, a complete flush and refill is not expected as a routine annual maintenance activity. With appropriate filtration, water treatment, and regular water-quality monitoring, the same water can remain in the system for many years. Additional flushing would generally be performed only when necessary, such as after significant contamination, corrosion, sediment buildup, biological growth, deterioration of water-treatment chemistry, a major leak, or repair or replacement of equipment. Whenever practical, the affected section of the system is isolated and flushed rather than draining the entire system.

A: The closed-loop system transfers heat from the data center to outdoor heat-rejection equipment. The cooling water remains within the closed system and is recirculated; it is not consumed through routine evaporation.

A: Water removed during commissioning, maintenance, or an infrequent system flush would be collected and managed in accordance with applicable water-quality requirements, permits, and local disposal regulations. Depending on the water chemistry and the approved site arrangements, it may be discharged to an authorized sanitary sewer system or collected for off-site treatment and disposal by an appropriately licensed provider. Flushed water would not be discharged to a storm drain, nearby waterways, or the ground without the necessary approvals.

A: No. Georgia families will not subsidize this project. OpenAI will pay the full infrastructure and electric-service costs required to serve it. Under Georgia Public Service Commission rules, projects of this scale must cover their full cost of electric service, including necessary grid-infrastructure costs. Those costs cannot be passed on to existing ratepayers. Large-load projects must also enter longer-term contracts and provide financial assurances, with the final contract subject to PSC approval.

A: The project is being designed as one of the first data centers to proactively reduce its power consumption during periods of high demand or grid stress, supporting reliability before residential customers are affected. The Georgia Public Service Commission also recently approved an agreement designed to ensure that incremental revenue from large-load growth produces estimated savings of roughly $102 per year for the typical Georgia Power residential customer beginning in 2029. OpenAI plans to share power-usage data publicly.

A: The project is expected to support thousands of construction jobs for electricians, equipment operators, mechanics, technicians, and other skilled tradespeople needed to build the campus and its power, electrical, cooling, and mechanical systems. The site will begin with a commitment to at least 400 permanent on-site jobs and, as the campus reaches full buildout, is expected to grow to over a thousand roles in site leadership, operations, electrical and mechanical maintenance, computing systems, security, and data safety.

A: OpenAI will make up to $71 million in Codex credits available to approximately 721,000 eligible Georgia college, community college, and technical school students aged 18 and older during the 2026-2027 academic year. Eligible students will receive $100 in credits through their ChatGPT accounts to gain hands-on experience with agentic AI, build projects, and develop practical skills for careers across engineering, manufacturing, health care, education, entrepreneurship, and the skilled trades.

A: Project Camellia is a long-term AI infrastructure project that OpenAI is designing and developing in Effingham County, Georgia. It is planned for 3.2 gigawatts. Significant work remains on the site plan, infrastructure, phasing, design, permitting, financing, and operating model.

A: More capable, reliable, affordable, and broadly available AI can help accelerate science and medicine, expand access to better tools for learning and discovery, create new kinds of jobs and businesses, and make everyday work more productive. As AI evolves from answering questions to completing longer and more complex work, it will require substantially more compute designed around those workloads. Building that infrastructure in the United States can also strengthen domestic industry, create good jobs, and support American technological leadership.

A: The site is in a pre-existing industrial area already intended for large-scale development. It offers the land, infrastructure potential, and long-term capacity needed for a project of this scale while allowing development in a setting zoned for industrial use.

A: The site had previously been slated for warehouse and logistics development. Based on current planning, Project Camellia is expected to generate materially less traffic than a warehouse or distribution-center project on the same site, while also comparing favorably on water use and day-to-day noise and generating stronger long-term tax revenue and more durable on-site employment. Additional project-specific comparisons will be shared as analyses are finalized.

A: The project is being planned for a full buildout of 3.2 gigawatts. Current planning contemplates phased development between 2028 and 2032, with initial capacity potentially coming online beginning in 2028. The project’s ultimate scale and timing will depend on permitting, infrastructure, financing, community engagement, construction, and other development milestones.

A: OpenAI is leading design and development and is running a competitive process to select a partner to construct and operate the campus. OpenAI will share more once those roles are finalized.

A: Current planning includes substantial setbacks and buffers, preservation of existing vegetation where possible, measures to reduce impacts to wetlands, lighting designed to minimize off-site glare, and appropriate noise mitigation. Final measures will depend on site design, technical studies, permitting, traffic review, and coordination with local officials and public agencies. Additional project-specific details will be shared as those plans are completed.

A: No, we do not expect the project to cause a noticeable change in temperatures in the surrounding community. Data center equipment is highly sensitive—and represents a substantial investment—so maintaining carefully controlled temperatures is essential to reliable operation. The facility’s cooling systems will be designed to manage and dissipate heat safely, with operating conditions continuously monitored. Simply put, effective temperature management is fundamental to protecting the equipment and keeping the facility operating properly.

A: Project Camellia is expected become Effingham County’s largest property taxpayer, generate hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local tax revenue, and create substantial economic activity. OpenAI plans to provide $80 million in direct support for the local community over the life of the project, plus up to $71 million in Codex credits for eligible students across Georgia. These commitments are separate from projected tax revenue and broader economic activity. The final mix of local community investments will be reflected in the Georgia Community Compact as the project develops.

A: The future Georgia Community Compact will be shaped by input from the open house and continued conversations with residents, local officials, schools, businesses, and community organizations. It is intended to translate community priorities into specific commitments and clear accountability measures as the project develops.

A: If developed as planned, the project will create demand for construction trades, materials, equipment, maintenance, food service, security, landscaping, logistics, and other support services. OpenAI intends to create clear paths for qualified local contractors, suppliers, trades, and service providers to learn about and compete for opportunities.

A: No. The project is expected to be privately funded.

A: Yes. OpenAI has already been meeting with state and local officials, community leaders, schools, and regional partners. On Thursday, July 23, OpenAI will hold a public open house at the Effingham County College and Career Academy from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. so residents can meet the project team, ask questions, and help shape the project. This will be an early opportunity to listen directly, and input from the open house and continued conversations will help shape the future Georgia Community Compact.

A: The future Georgia Community Compact is intended to translate community priorities into specific commitments and clear accountability measures. OpenAI will continue engaging with residents and sharing information as the project develops. To provide an independent check, the project will also undergo an annual audit by an independent firm, with the results made public.