Aligned Data Centers announced plans to develop a new mega-scale AI data center campus in Coshocton County, Ohio, converting a 197-acre brownfield site next to the decommissioned AEP Conesville Power Plant into a hyperscale digital infrastructure hub. The site will be part of the Conesville Industrial Park and represents Aligned’s third major campus in the state.
The phased, multi-billion-dollar development is expected to deliver its first data center with a foundational customer by mid-2026. The project will generate thousands of construction jobs and create hundreds of long-term operational roles. Aligned emphasized that the project aligns with broader economic revitalization goals for Southeast Ohio, including tax revenue growth and support for public infrastructure. Community engagement plans include educational partnerships and environmental initiatives.
The new campus is designed to support AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads, with scalable, energy-efficient infrastructure. Aligned’s patented cooling systems and adaptive design enable dense compute environments and vertical expansion, appealing to hyperscalers seeking rapid deployment and sustainability.
• Location: 197-acre site adjacent to the former AEP Conesville Power Plant
• Timeline: Initial capacity delivery targeted for mid-2026
• Jobs: Thousands of construction roles and hundreds of long-term operational jobs
• Customer: Foundational tenant already secured
• Ohio footprint: Third Aligned campus in the state
“We are proud to see this investment revitalize a critical legacy site. It lays a powerful foundation, drawing new industries, creating high-quality jobs, and unlocking significant future opportunities for Southeast Ohio,” said Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned Data Centers.
🌐 Why it Matters: The repurposing of retired fossil fuel sites into AI-capable data centers represents a growing trend in digital infrastructure. As AI workload demand soars, providers like Aligned are targeting regions with energy availability, workforce potential, and economic development incentives. Ohio continues to emerge as a key U.S. data center corridor.
🌐 Backgrounder: Aligned Data Centers is a privately held technology infrastructure company headquartered in Plano, Texas, delivering scalable and sustainable data center solutions for hyperscale, artificial intelligence (AI), and enterprise customers. Its innovative platform integrates adaptive infrastructure with advanced cooling and power technologies, such as the DeltaFlow~ liquid cooling system, to minimize environmental impact while meeting the high-density demands of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.
Led by CEO Andrew Schaap, a seasoned industry leader with prior executive roles at Digital Realty, Aligned operates Scale Data Centers for multi-tenant colocation and Build-to-Scale campuses for customized hyperscale deployments. The company maintains a strong presence across key U.S. markets, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Northern Virginia, and West Jordan, Utah, with additional development projects in Maryland, Ohio, Illinois, and Virginia. Aligned’s global footprint extends to Latin America through its acquisition of ODATA, serving Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.
Backed by Macquarie Asset Management, CenterSquare Investment Management, and Mubadala Investment Company, Aligned secured $12 billion in capital in 2025 to fuel its expansion, targeting over 5GW of AI-ready data center capacity across the Americas.
