Aligned Data Centers Breaks Ground on 2 GW 'Project Phoenix' Campus at Legacy Shippingport Energy Site

Aligned Data Centers has commenced construction on "Project Phoenix," a 2 GW data center campus in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, marking a significant milestone in the redevelopment of a legacy industrial site into modern digital infrastructure. The project, spanning three facilities, is expected to anchor an estimated $10 billion in regional economic investment and signals growing momentum behind large-scale data center development in Western Pennsylvania.

The groundbreaking carries broader significance as demand for digital infrastructure continues to surge across the United States, placing increasing pressure on developers to balance capacity growth with community responsibility and grid reliability. Project Phoenix is positioned as a model for how advanced data center development can be pursued without shifting costs onto local ratepayers or compromising energy affordability.

"Project Phoenix represents the future of responsible data center development," said Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned. "The project is a legacy reimagined that transforms a dormant industrial site into a foundational asset for the local community. Beyond delivering critical infrastructure for our customers, this investment establishes a powerful new economic hub for Western Pennsylvania and creates long-term prosperity for local workers and the community."

A central feature of the project is its approach to power. The campus will rely on its own dedicated onsite power source rather than drawing from the local electrical grid. Situated in the Shippingport Industrial Park, the campus is adjacent to the Shippingport Power Station, a former coal plant being redeveloped into an advanced natural gas energy campus. Once completed, Project Phoenix is expected to deliver substantial excess power capacity back to the grid, boosting supply for the nation's largest power grid operator and Pennsylvania consumers.

Aligned has also endorsed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) requirements and signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, underscoring its commitment to energy affordability, workforce development, transparency, and environmental protection. "We proudly support Governor Shapiro's GRID standards and are a signatory of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge," Schaap added. "We have always held ourselves to a higher bar because doing things the right way is simply who we are. We aren't just a responsible developer; we operate these facilities and stay in the communities we build, so the long-term success of our projects and communities is essential to our continued growth."

The economic impact of the project is substantial. Project Phoenix is expected to support approximately 3,000 construction jobs and create an estimated 640 full-time careers for ongoing campus operations, while catalyzing thousands of indirect jobs throughout the local supply chain and regional economy. The campus is also projected to generate new government revenue annually for Beaver County. "Project Phoenix represents a significant investment in the future of Western Pennsylvania and the region's digital infrastructure," said Beth Lowry, CEO of Holder Construction. "We're proud to partner with Aligned on this transformative project and help bring a world-class data center campus to the community."

Brett Burgett, CEO of Kokosing, echoed that sentiment: "Transforming a legacy industrial site into a next-generation data center campus requires vision and world-class execution. We are honored that Aligned has trusted Kokosing as a partner to bring Project Phoenix to life. Together, we are delivering sustainable, critical infrastructure while providing thousands of highly skilled tradespeople the opportunity to build the future of their own community."

Shippingport Mayor John Erickson emphasized the project's local significance: "For decades, Shippingport has been defined by powering the country as the birthplace of commercial nuclear energy. Project Phoenix honors that legacy, opening a new chapter by taking a historic site and rebuilding it into a modern engine of innovation. By creating thousands of jobs and sustainable career pathways for the next generation, this is far more than an infrastructure project – it is a profound investment in our community's future."

On the environmental front, each Project Phoenix data center is engineered to require zero water for operational cooling, utilizing an advanced closed-loop system that continuously recycles pure, deionized water. The facilities are expected to have a minimal overall water footprint comparable to a standard commercial office building. Aligned is also pursuing Green Globes certification at Project Phoenix, a comprehensive green building rating system administered by the Green Building Initiative, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable design.