Aligned Data Centers has officially broken ground on "Project Phoenix," a 2-gigawatt data center campus in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, marking one of the largest digital infrastructure developments in the region's history and transforming a dormant industrial site into what the company describes as a new economic anchor for Western Pennsylvania.

A Legacy Site Reborn

The campus will be built within the Shippingport Industrial Park, adjacent to the Shippingport Power Station, a former coal power plant currently being redeveloped into an advanced natural gas energy facility.

The site carries significant historical weight; Shippingport is recognized as the birthplace of commercial nuclear energy in the United States. The three-facility campus is expected to anchor an estimated USD 10 billion in regional economic investment, according to the company's announcement. Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned Data Centers, framed the project as a model for responsible development.

"Project Phoenix represents the future of responsible data center development," Schaap said.

"The project is a legacy reimagined that transforms a dormant industrial site into a foundational asset for the local community."

Schaap added that the company is not merely a developer but an operator that remains embedded in the communities where it builds, making long-term community success integral to its own growth.

Power Strategy and Grid Implications

A central feature of Project Phoenix is its planned independence from the local electrical grid during operations. The campus will draw power from its own dedicated onsite power source tied to the adjacent natural gas energy campus being developed at the former coal plant site.

Once completed, the project is expected to generate substantial excess power capacity that would be returned to the grid, providing additional supply for PJM Interconnection, the country's largest grid operator, and benefiting Pennsylvania consumers.

This approach directly addresses one of the most contentious issues surrounding large-scale data center development nationally: the strain that high-density computing loads can place on regional power infrastructure and the potential cost implications for local ratepayers.

Aligned stated that it has signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge and expressed support for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's Responsible Infrastructure Development, or GRID, requirements, a framework designed to ensure data center projects protect energy affordability and engage meaningfully with host communities.

Jobs and Economic Impact

Project Phoenix is projected to support approximately 3,000 construction jobs during its development phase and create an estimated 640 full-time positions for ongoing campus operations.

The company also cited the potential for thousands of additional indirect jobs across the local supply chain and regional economy. Beaver County, where Shippingport is located, is expected to receive new government revenue annually as a result of the campus.

Two major construction firms have been named as partners on the project. Holder Construction and Kokosing are both involved in delivering the campus. Beth Lowry, CEO of Holder Construction, described the project as transformative for Western Pennsylvania.

"We're proud to partner with Aligned on this transformative project and help bring a world-class data center campus to the community," Lowry said.

"The project will create meaningful opportunities for local workers and businesses while supporting long-term economic growth across the region."

Brett Burgett, CEO of Kokosing, highlighted the skilled labor component of the development. "Together, we are delivering sustainable, critical infrastructure while providing thousands of highly skilled tradespeople the opportunity to build the future of their own community," Burgett said.

Community Engagement and Local Response

Shippingport Mayor John Erickson voiced strong support for the project, connecting it to the borough's identity as an energy community. "For decades, Shippingport has been defined by powering the country as the birthplace of commercial nuclear energy," Erickson said.

"Project Phoenix honors that legacy, opening a new chapter by taking a historic site and rebuilding it into a modern engine of innovation."

Aligned stated that it prioritized early and ongoing engagement with the Shippingport community throughout the planning process, establishing channels for open dialogue and ensuring that local feedback shaped the campus's design, planning, and construction approach. The company framed this transparency as a core element of its development philosophy rather than a regulatory obligation.

Water Use and Environmental Certifications

On the environmental side, Aligned said each of the three Project Phoenix data centers has been engineered to require zero water for operational cooling. The facilities use a closed-loop system that continuously recycles pure, deionized water, resulting in what the company characterizes as a minimal overall water footprint comparable to that of a standard commercial office building.

Aligned is pursuing Green Globes certification for Project Phoenix through the Green Building Initiative, a third-party assessment program that evaluates a facility's resource efficiency and overall environmental impact.

The company noted that it is among the highest-certifying data center developers in the Green Globes program.

The groundbreaking was announced on September 10, 2026, with Aligned headquartered in Dallas, Texas.