OpenAI announces 3.2 GW AI data centre campus in Georgia

The company said it will contract with Georgia Power Company for 3.2 GW of electricity, which will be delivered in phases between 2028 and 2032 to support the long-term data centre project.

Seeking to address concerns surrounding large data centres, OpenAI outlined four key commitments covering electricity costs, water usage, community investment and accountability.

The company said Georgia residents would not bear any additional electricity costs because of the project, adding that OpenAI would pay the full cost of the infrastructure and electric service required to support the facility.

It also said the data centre would be among the first designed to proactively reduce power consumption during periods of high electricity demand before residential customers are affected, helping improve grid reliability.

On water consumption, OpenAI said the facility will use a closed-loop cooling system that recirculates water rather than continuously withdrawing and discharging it. According to the company, ongoing water requirements will primarily be for workplace uses such as restrooms, kitchens, sanitation and maintenance, with consumption comparable to that of a similarly sized office building.

As part of its community commitments, OpenAI said it would provide USD 80 million over the life of the project for priorities identified by local communities, including schools, healthcare, workforce training, housing, public safety, utilities, veterans' services, support for small businesses and working families.

Separately, the company announced up to USD 71 million in Codex credits for eligible students enrolled in Georgia's colleges, community colleges and technical schools. Eligible students will receive USD 100 in ChatGPT Codex credits to build software projects and develop AI-related technical skills.

OpenAI added that the project is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local tax revenues and create thousands of construction jobs as well as permanent on-site positions, while prioritising local contractors and businesses.

To ensure transparency, the company said an independent firm would conduct and publish an annual public audit assessing whether the project is meeting its stated commitments.

OpenAI said it has already begun consultations with state and local officials, schools, businesses and community organisations, and will host a public open house on July 23 to gather feedback. The discussions will help shape a Georgia Community Compact, which will formalise the company's commitments and accountability measures as the project progresses.

The proposed data centre will be located within the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, an existing industrially zoned site. OpenAI said the project is expected to generate less traffic than a warehouse development on the same site while using less water, creating stronger long-term tax revenues and supporting more durable employment.

The company said the project remains in the early stages of development, with work still required on infrastructure, project phasing, design, financing and operating plans. It added that the facility would be entirely privately funded and forms part of its broader effort to expand AI computing infrastructure in the United States, following its large-scale campus in Abilene, Texas. (ANI)