OpenAI Faces Civil Racketeering Lawsuit Over $30bn Project Camellia Data Center in Georgia

OpenAI and a group of local officials in Effingham County, Georgia, are facing civil racketeering allegations over the planned $30 billion Project Camellia data center, as a group of residents escalates a legal battle that underscores growing community resistance to large-scale AI infrastructure development across the United States.

The lawsuit, filed by law firm Savage Turner Pinkney Savage Sprouse & Gilluly on behalf of three Effingham County residents, names OpenAI, two of its affiliates, and a host of county officials as defendants. The plaintiffs allege that the company and officials engaged in a civil conspiracy to advance the data center scheme through behind-closed-door discussions and decisions, and accuse them of improper zoning procedures. The complaint also includes a charge of civil racketeering involving false statements, perjury, and forgery, though it does not detail specific statements that might constitute such conduct.

The residents claim that offers to purchase properties near the data center site have been reduced or withdrawn entirely, and argue that the development has diminished the value of their properties. They are seeking civil damages. It marks the third lawsuit related to Project Camellia filed since the 3.2 GW campus was announced in July, following earlier filings focused on zoning and on the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority's role in advancing the development. None of the cases has yet reached court.

Project Camellia is planned for a 1,440-acre land parcel at the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub near the town of Rincon. The campus would comprise four data center buildings with a total footprint of 4.4 million square feet (408,775 square meters). Construction could begin in 2028 if final permission is granted, with a decision originally due at a Supervisors' board meeting on November 4 now postponed to November 19.

The litigation highlights the mounting tension between the rapid buildout of AI-driven data center capacity and local communities concerned about transparency, property values, and land use. As hyperscale projects grow in size and power demand, developers face increasing scrutiny over permitting processes and community engagement, and legal challenges of this nature could set precedents for how such projects are approved and communicated to residents in the future.