SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – A second lawsuit tied to OpenAI’s proposed Project Camellia data center has been filed in Effingham County, this time challenging the county’s handling of public meetings, records and the sale of publicly owned land connected to the project.
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed the lawsuit Monday in Effingham County Superior Court on behalf of environmental group One Hundred Miles and Effingham County residents. The suit names the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority as the defendant and alleges violations of Georgia’s Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act.
The Herald reached out to the IDA for comment and is awaiting a response.
The lawsuit comes less than three weeks after three Effingham County residents filed a separate lawsuit challenging the county’s Aug. 4 approval of an ordinance allowing data centers in industrial zoning districts.
The two lawsuits raise different legal challenges. The first seeks to invalidate the zoning ordinance, while the new lawsuit focuses on the IDA’s meetings, records and sale of property associated with Project Camellia.
One Hundred Miles is a nonprofit organization that advocates for protection of Georgia’s coast through community engagement, education and policy advocacy.
Lawsuit challenges IDA process
According to the new complaint, county officials negotiated with OpenAI for months before the $20 billion Project Camellia was publicly announced July 22.
The proposed campus would include about 4.4 million square feet of data center space on roughly 1,440 acres at the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub. OpenAI says the project is expected to require up to 3.2 gigawatts of electricity and be developed in phases between 2028 and 2032.
The complaint alleges the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority concealed important information from the public during that process.
Among the allegations is that the project was identified as “Project Gateway” on the IDA’s July meeting agenda without describing the proposed data center or the tax incentives associated with it.
The complaint says the tax abatement under consideration was worth nearly $900 million.
The plaintiffs argue the lack of detail prevented residents from receiving meaningful notice about the business scheduled for consideration.
Meeting notice challenged
The lawsuit also challenges the IDA’s decision to reschedule its July meeting, alleging the change was made without the seven days’ advance notice required under Georgia law.
The complaint further challenges the sale of publicly owned land to Octans GA LLC, an OpenAI affiliate involved in the project.
According to the lawsuit, Georgia law requires a government entity to hold a public meeting before selling publicly owned land.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to enforce Georgia’s open-government requirements and require a process that allows residents to participate in decisions involving the proposed data center.
The allegations in the complaint have not been proven in court.
Residents raise concerns
Manjusha Sheobaran, an Effingham County resident who the lawsuit says lives less than 1,500 feet from the proposed data center site, said residents should have a role in decisions affecting their neighborhoods.
“For 20 years, the property across from our homes has suffered under the curse of the IDA's administrative overreach, from land grabs to secret agreements,” Sheobaran said. “As Effingham residents, we have been kept in the dark.”
SELC Staff Attorney Zachary Henneesee said Georgia’s public-process laws are intended to give residents an opportunity to participate before major government decisions are made.
“Georgia’s public process rules exist because communities should not learn about major decisions only after deals have been negotiated behind closed doors,” Henneesee said.
Megan Desrosiers, president and CEO of One Hundred Miles, said the proposed project could affect neighborhoods, schools, water use and electricity costs.
“Residents deserve to know the facts and the ability to weigh in with a meaningful voice before decisions are finalized,” Desrosiers said.
Two lawsuits, different challenges
The first lawsuit, filed Sept. 2 by Dr. Michelle Finch-Mincey, Lehman Mincey Jr. and Raymond Carver, challenges Ordinance 2026-352, which county commissioners approved Aug. 4.
That lawsuit alleges the county failed to hold public hearings required by state law and the county’s zoning ordinance before changing the Permitted Use Table to allow data centers on industrially zoned property.
The plaintiffs in that case are asking a judge to declare the ordinance invalid and prevent the county from relying on it unless the required zoning procedures are followed.
That lawsuit does not name OpenAI or Georgia Power as defendants and does not ask the court to stop Project Camellia.
The new lawsuit instead targets the Industrial Development Authority and focuses on alleged violations of Georgia’s open-government laws and the sale of public property.
No court has ruled on the allegations in either lawsuit.
