Project Overview

The Caprock Data Center (Project Caprock)  is a 540 MW, 313-acre AI data center campus under construction by Aligned Data Centers in Hale County, Texas. Aligned broke ground on 9 April 2026, making it the most prominent US data center groundbreakings of 2026. At full build-out, the campus will comprise six data center facilities totalling 1.65 million square feet, with a total economic impact estimated at USD 5 billion. 

The campus is designed for AI and high-performance computing workloads and cooling-intensive classes of data center applications. Aligned's proprietary DeltaFlow™ liquid cooling technology is central to the design. The closed-loop design eliminates evaporative water consumption, ensuring the campus draws no continuous water from the aquifer. 

Aligned is building and funding all dedicated electrical infrastructure for the Caprock campus independently. Xcel Energy will provide power from the transmission system without ratepayers bearing the cost of infrastructure built to serve the data center specifically.

Ryan Companies serves as the general contractor, with the first facility (LBB-01) targeted for service in Q1 2027. The multi-building campus will generate thousands of construction jobs over its build-out timeline. Aligned pledged to hire locals in Hale County and the surrounding communities. 

The USD 5 billion projected economic impact comprises construction cost, permanent operations employment, supply chain contracts, and long-term property tax contributions to the county, in a region where large-scale private investment of this magnitude is genuinely transformational. 

Caprock Data Center Location

Caprock Data Center is strategically located on a 313-acre site in Hale County, just outside the city of Abernathy in the South Plains region of Northwest Texas, USA. The primary facility (LBB-01) is officially addressed at 1498 County Road 315, Abernathy, Texas 79311. The site lies approximately 20 miles (roughly 20 minutes by road) north of Lubbock, Texas. 

Technical Specification

Project Background

Aligned Data Centers was founded to challenge the prevailing assumption in the data center industry that raw power delivery and floor space are the primary measures of data center value. Aligned's existing North American data center portfolio spans several markets, including Phoenix (Arizona), Chicago (Illinois), Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas), and Northern Virginia. 

The selection of Abernathy in Hale County reflects several converging site selection criteria. West Texas produces more wind power than any other region in the United States, making it a natural home for energy-intensive industries seeking renewable power purchase agreements.

Ryan Companies is mobilising civil works crews for site preparation, access road construction, utility corridor excavation, and engineered sub-base preparation for the building pads. The site preparation phase for a 313-acre, six-building campus requires substantial material inputs. 

Caprock Data Center Status

As of July 2026, the Caprock Data Center is currently under construction, with the first building (LBB-01) targeted for Q1 2027 commissioning. Upon full completion (expected by 2030), the campus will deliver critical AI and hyperscale computing capacity while generating thousands of construction jobs and long-term economic benefits for the South Plains region.

Stakeholder Details

Caprock Data Center Project Cost

The total estimated cost for the Project Caprock (Caprock Data Center) is approximately USD 5 billion. 

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the Caprock Data Center Project

• Computing Infrastructure: The project involves the deployment of next-generation data center infrastructure optimized for hyperscale, cloud, and AI workloads
  

• Sustainable Cooling and Water Conservation: Implementation of Aligned's DeltaFlow™ liquid cooling technology in a closed-loop, waterless design to avoid drawing from the Ogallala Aquifer and protect agricultural water resources.
  

• Site and Utility Infrastructure: Comprehensive site development including internal road networks, stormwater management systems, fiber optic connectivity, water treatment facilities for cooling loops, and substations for power distribution.
  

• Critical Facility Infrastructure: Each data center building includes high-density server halls, backup power systems (generators and UPS), fire suppression systems, security perimeters, and 24/7 operations control centers. 

Project Timeline

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project:

• Economic Investment: The developer invests approximately USD 5 billion in the project, bringing long-term economic growth and diversification beyond traditional agriculture and energy sectors.
  

• Creates Employment Opportunities: It creates multiple job opportunities during its multi-year build-out phase, followed by permanent high-skilled technology and operations positions once the campus becomes operational. 
  

• Technology Infrastructure Advancement: Establishment of critical digital infrastructure to support AI workloads positions Northwest Texas as an emerging technology hub in the United States.
  

• Energy Sector Synergies: Partnership with Xcel Energy to develop dedicated power infrastructure, creating synergies with Texas's robust energy grid and supporting the state's growing demand for data center power capacity. 
  

• Water Resource Conservation: Deployment of closed-loop, waterless DeltaFlow™ liquid cooling technology that eliminates competition with agricultural and residential water needs, preserving the Ogallala Aquifer for farming communities. 
  

• Workforce Skill Development: Training and employment opportunities for local workers in advanced construction techniques, data center operations, IT infrastructure management, and renewable energy technologies. 

Conclusion

The Caprock Data Center is a transformative infrastructure investment project for the Northwest Texas. A 540 MW, 313-acre AI data center campus comprises six facilities, spanning a total site area of 1.65 million square feet. 

The project spotlights sustainable data center development coexistence with agricultural water conservation through Aligned's proprietary DeltaFlow™ liquid cooling technology and dedicated power infrastructure funded to protect local ratepayers. 

As artificial intelligence and cloud computing demand continue to surge nationwide, Project Caprock exemplifies the next generation of sustainable, community-integrated data center development that balances technological advancement with environmental stewardship and regional economic prosperity. 

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