Aligned Data Centers has told DCD it plans to “move forward” with its previously stalled data center campus in Maryland after recent regulatory changes.
Maryland recently amended its regulations around backup generators, easing restrictions for data center firms. With this move, Aligned said it would again be moving ahead with its plans for a campus in the master-planned Quantum Frederick park.
Maryland isn’t currently a major data center market, but the Quantum Loophole campus, near Adamstown just north of Virginia's Loudoun County, is seeking to create a massive data center park that could reach up to 2GW.
Led by former Terremark and CyrusOne executive Snowhorn, the company has partnered with TPG Real Estate Partners (TREP) and is developing a 2,100-acre, park on the former Alcoa Eastalco Works aluminum smelting plant site in Frederick County.
As Quantum’s first tenant, Aligned planned to build 3.3 million sq ft (306,580 sqm) of data center capacity at the park. A spokesperson for Quantum said the company had sold the land to Aligned.
Aligned wanted 168 diesel generators capable of delivering 504MW for its full build on the site but the company pulled out last year after only being granted a provisional exemption for up to 70MW of diesel generators.
This month saw Maryland Governor Wes Moore sign SB0474 – also known as the Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act of 2024 – into law. The bill alters the definition of a "generating station," with the aim of exempting generating facilities used to produce electricity for the purpose of on-site emergency backup from certain permitting requirements.
Previously, backup generators below 2MW were generally allowed, while any installation bigger than 2MW was classified as a "generating station" and had to be granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), a process that requires a lengthy public consultation.
“Aligned Data Centers applauds Governor Wes Moore for signing The Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act of 2024,” the company told DCD this week. “His vision for a thriving tech sector is a catalyst for Maryland's economic growth. This landmark legislation paves the way for billions in potential investment and significant job growth in Maryland. It also positions the state as a strategic hub for leading technology companies. Aligned is excited to move forward with our plans in Maryland.”
Quinbrook-owned data center firm Rowan is also planning on developing at the Quantum site. Initially planning four single-story buildings totaling 777,150 sq ft (72,200 sqm) across 151 acres, the company is now aiming to construct 11 buildings across three individual sites with Quantum’s park.
Quantum Loophole this month announced it had sold 151 acres on the campus to an unidentified customer. In the wake of the new regulations around generators, Quantum Loophole CEO, Josh Snowhorn, said: “We are excited for the incredible momentum and progress with our clients at the site. We expect all of our clients to rapidly make progress on their developments.“
