Aligned Data Centers has broken ground on “Project Caprock,” a 540 MW data center campus in Hale County, near Abernathy, Texas, marking a major expansion of its North American footprint. The 313-acre development will deliver approximately 1.65 million square feet of capacity across six facilities, with the first building (LBB-01) scheduled to come online in Q1 2027. The project is expected to anchor roughly $5 billion in regional investment, targeting hyperscale, cloud, and AI workloads.
The Caprock campus incorporates Aligned’s DeltaFlow liquid cooling technology alongside a closed-loop air-cooled heat rejection system designed to minimize water consumption. The system recirculates water to avoid drawing from the Ogallala Aquifer, addressing sustainability concerns tied to large-scale AI infrastructure. In parallel, Xcel Energywill collaborate on dedicated power infrastructure, with Aligned funding grid interconnections to ensure capacity without impacting local ratepayers.
Beyond infrastructure, the development positions itself as a long-term economic engine for Hale County and the city of Abernathy. Construction is expected to generate thousands of jobs, followed by permanent technical roles once operational. Aligned also plans to launch workforce development programs through its Aligned Academy initiative and establish partnerships with local educational institutions to build a pipeline of skilled labor for data center operations.
- 540 MW total planned capacity across six data center facilities
- 313-acre campus in Hale County, near Abernathy, Texas
- 1.65 million sq ft (≈153,000 square meters) of data center space
- $5 billion projected regional economic impact
- Initial facility (LBB-01) targeted for service in Q1 2027
- Closed-loop cooling system designed to eliminate net water consumption from local aquifers
- Dedicated power infrastructure funded by Aligned to protect local utility customers
- Workforce development through Aligned Academy and local partnerships
“Project Caprock represents a significant step in meeting growing AI infrastructure demand while aligning with community priorities for sustainable development,” said Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned Data Centers.
🌐 Analysis: The scale of Project Caprock underscores the accelerating shift toward multi-hundred-megawatt AI campuses in secondary U.S. markets, particularly in regions like West Texas where land, power availability, and regulatory conditions support rapid expansion. Aligned joins a growing cohort of developers targeting similar geographies as hyperscalers seek to diversify beyond traditional hubs.
🌐 Analysis: The emphasis on closed-loop cooling and utility-funded infrastructure reflects rising scrutiny around water and grid impact from AI data centers. Comparable strategies are emerging across the sector, with operators increasingly required to demonstrate sustainable resource usage and minimal community impact to secure approvals and long-term power agreements.
