OpenAI’s AI spending spree has ballooned to $750B

OpenAI has announced plans to invest $750 billion in infrastructure through 2030, marking a significant escalation from its previous estimates. The decision comes amid reports that its Stargate data center project has encountered delays. A key component of this investment will be a $20 billion data center campus named Project Camellia, set to be constructed in Georgia. This facility, located 1,400 acres northwest of Savannah, is expected to consume at least 3.2 gigawatts of power from Georgia Power, the regional utility. Construction is anticipated to begin with power availability scheduled between 2028 and 2032. OpenAI has committed to covering the full cost of the infrastructure and electric-service expenses for the new data center. However, the Georgia Public Service Commission implemented a rule last year to prevent utilities from transferring these costs to consumers if new users require more than 100 megawatts of power. Additionally, OpenAI has agreed to reduce its power consumption by up to 1 gigawatt during peak grid demand periods. According to the Effingham Herald, the county has granted a 50% property tax abatement for 15 years to support the project. Despite these commitments, neither OpenAI nor Georgia Power has disclosed the specific energy sources for Project Camellia. TechCrunch sought clarification from both entities but received no immediate response. Regulatory filings offer some insight into potential power sources. In December, Georgia Power secured approval from the PSC to expand its generation capacity by 9,885 megawatts. The utility anticipates completing all contracts by the end of 2026, with the OpenAI deal accounting for approximately one-third of this expansion. Documents filed by Georgia Power with the PSC indicate that much of the new capacity will derive from natural gas. The utility plans to construct or acquire around 5.8 gigawatts of natural gas generating capacity, with roughly a quarter sourced from more environmentally impactful simple-cycle turbines. This expansion will nearly triple Georgia Power's existing natural gas fleet. The remaining capacity will be supplied via grid-scale batteries and solar installations. Although electricity is expected to flow to the site starting in 2028, OpenAI has yet to specify when the first GPU will be activated. Given the recent hiring of Brett Mayo, who previously led the construction of xAI's Colossus data center in Memphis, the activation could occur earlier than 2028. Mayo's experience with rapid deployment of large-scale facilities suggests a potentially expedited timeline for Project Camellia. The Colossus data center, however, has faced scrutiny due to alleged impacts on local air quality. A lawsuit brought by the NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center alleges that xAI operated numerous unpermitted natural gas turbines, leveraging exemptions from federal clean air regulations. These allegations highlight ongoing concerns regarding the environmental implications of such large-scale projects. As the project moves forward, stakeholders will continue to monitor developments related to both the technical execution and environmental impact of OpenAI's ambitious infrastructure investments. The coming months will likely bring further clarity on the specifics of Project Camellia's power sourcing and operational timelines.