Effingham agency pays tens of thousands to plug OpenAI project

About 25,000 phones beeped and buzzed across southeast Georgia last Monday, texting folks a link to a website publicizing Project Camellia, OpenAI’s planned massive data center in Effingham County. It’s part of a charm offensive from an Alabama PR firm and the county agency that took the lead in ushering OpenAI to Rincon.

The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and their public relations firm, Direct Communications, are trying to catch up with the public anger and questions that started as soon as the news of OpenAI’s arrival broke across Effingham County.

Officials in the county have been quiet about public costs of the data center, notably air pollution from an expansion of Georgia Power’s Plant McIntosh under review by the state, as well that from other new fossil fuel units across the state that would be needed to power data centers. The OpenAI data center would need as much power as 2.3 million homes. As The Current GA has reported, staff at the state’s regulatory agency have prepared to raise objections over OpenAI’s draft contract with Georgia Power; the utility has won more time to negotiate.

The IDA has argued that OpenAI means public money: Even at the 15-year, 50% property tax discount the agency granted to the data center, Effingham County and its schools expect substantial tax revenue from the data center that could drive down property taxes for homeowners.  The company has also said it will grant $80 million to the community, but no details have been forthcoming.