Coal City, IL

Advancing Technology, Strengthening Community.

Aligned’s proposed Coal City campus is designed to be a long-term asset for our neighbors. That means creating high-paying local jobs, generating new tax revenue to support vital local services, and helping nearby businesses thrive. We’re committed to being a good neighbor – listening to your feedback, respecting the local way of life, and building a lasting partnership with the residents of Coal City.

about the project

About Aligned and Our Coal City Campus 

Aligned was founded on the idea that infrastructure should be a net-positive for the planet and the public. Since our founding in 2013, Aligned has been defined by a simple principle: responsible growth. Sustainability and community aren’t new initiatives for us – they’re the bedrock of why our customers choose us, our employees choose to stay with us, and our communities choose to have us as their neighbors.

what you need to know

Your Questions, Answered

We know you likely have questions about what a data center means for your community. We are here to answer them transparently. We look forward to the opportunity to invest in this region and are committed to being a responsible, contributing neighbor.


Reliable Energy & Protected Utility Rates
Protecting Local Water & Preserving Land
Driving Economic Growth & Career Pathways
Transparent Partnerships & Local Investment
A Quiet, Low-Impact Neighbor

Reliable Energy & Protected Utility Rates

Aligned is committed to paying its fair share, covering the cost of electricity tied to its data centers as well as on-site power generation so that the cost of powering its facilities never falls on local families. 

Furthermore, Aligned acts as a “grid safety valve.” During rare regional power emergencies, Aligned can instantly switch to its on-site backup systems, leaving more electricity on the grid for mission-critical homes and hospitals. 


Protecting Local Water & Preserving Land

Aligned uses an air-cooled heat rejection system combined with a closed loop system that recycles pure deionized water repeatedly in a sealed environment. This design requires water only for the initial closed-loop cooling system fill and minimally for subsequent maintenance. Following this, water consumption is limited only to essential non-industrial uses, such as restrooms and general amenities. So, the water Aligned would draw for its Coal City campus is primarily for domestic, everyday use by our onsite employees.


Driving Economic Growth & Career Pathways

Aligned is committed to being a financial engine for its communities.  The millions in tax revenue generated by its campuses go directly to the things that matter most: local schools, emergency services, and public parks. 

By prioritizing local construction partners and investing in targeted education initiatives, Aligned ensures that the economic benefits of its data centers stay local.  

Aligned also builds direct pipelines that give residents the training required to access the high-paying careers created by the data center industry.


Transparent Partnerships & Local Investment

We are committed to earning community trust through transparency and an open-door policy. From open houses to direct dialogues, community input is highly valued, and the public is invited to review data and ask questions. 

Rather than arriving with a pre-set agenda or a transactional approach to local support, Aligned prioritizes active listening. By actively engaging with local residents, Aligned can identify the initiatives that truly matter before developing targeted, meaningful ways to help.


A Quiet, Low-Impact Neighbor

Aligned’s data center sites use a low-impact, discrete and non-intrusive lighting design, featuring downward-facing, fully shielded fixtures and strategically placed landscaping to ensure minimal light spillage and preserve the community’s nighttime environment.

Our cooling systems are also precision-engineered for minimal acoustic impact, operating at sound levels comparable to a normal conversation – and often quieter than a standard residential air conditioning unit.

economic impact

Diversifying Coal City’s Economic Future

Public Schools & Workforce Development

Tax revenue generated by Aligned’s data centers helps strengthen local education systems and prepare the next generation of skilled workers.

  • Funding for classroom resources, technology upgrades, and campus improvements
  • Support for career and technical education (CTE) programs and trade certifications
  • Partnerships with local colleges and workforce training programs
  • Scholarships, internships, and mentorship opportunities for local students

First Responders & Emergency Services

Data centers can help ensure local police, fire departments, and emergency responders have the resources they need to keep communities safe.

  • Upgrades to fire stations, emergency facilities, and communication systems
  • Additional funding for police, fire, and EMS personnel
  • Modern equipment, vehicles, and protective gear
  • Emergency response training and preparedness programs

Infrastructure Upgrades

Data center investment can help strengthen the infrastructure communities rely on every day.

  • Road improvements and traffic management enhancements
  • Water, sewer, and utility system upgrades
  • Expanded broadband and digital connectivity
  • Improvements to public facilities and municipal services

Community Programs

Beyond essential services, tax revenue can help support programs and spaces that bring communities together.

  • Funding for parks, trails, and recreational facilities
  • Support for libraries, community centers, and youth programs
  • Funding for local nonprofits and civic initiatives
more than megawatts

Our Commitment to Community 

Aligned builds long-term community partnerships by listening to local input and creating meaningful, lasting opportunities for businesses and citizens to prosper.

hear from our team

Meet the People Behind the Infrastructure

bryan stopka

Get to know Bryan Stopka, Critical Facilities Technician at Aligned and Coal City High School graduate. In this video, Bryan shares his journey with Aligned, what he loves about Coal City, his thoughts on how data centers create long-term value for local communities, and more.

FAQ

Data Center Fundamentals 

Want to learn more about data centers?  We’ve got you covered. 

A data center is a secure facility that houses computer systems and servers to store, process, and deliver digital information. It hosts and powers the internet, email, apps, and the online services we use every day.

They keep the digital world running smoothly, supporting everything from online learning and healthcare to banking and streaming entertainment.

These facilities create well-paying jobs in construction, operations, and technology, as well as opportunities with new local vendors and service providers that become attracted to the region due to the presence of these facilities.

Businesses want to be near reliable digital infrastructure, so data centers make a region more appealing for growth. This can help bring in technology companies, startups, and firms from other industries.

They generate significant tax revenue that helps support schools, public safety, and community services.

Yes, data centers are designed with strict safety, security, and environmental standards. They are quiet neighbors with minimal traffic and activity compared to large facilities in other business sectors.

Modern data centers use advanced technology to reduce energy and water use, often setting industry standards for efficiency. Many also invest in renewable energy, sustainability programs, and utility partnerships.

Aligned’s data centers are designed to be quiet, unobtrusive neighbors. On a typical day, our operations produce a sound similar to normal conversation and just below a household air conditioner. Our chillers and backup power generation equipment utilize critical-grade silencing technology and backup power generation equipment is housed in acoustically treated enclosures to trap sound at the source. We prioritize the community’s comfort by limiting backup equipment use to essential maintenance and rare emergencies. By incorporating wide site setbacks and defined ‘quiet hours’ for construction, we ensure our work never disrupts your daily life. Every Aligned project is managed under a strict noise-mitigation plan that ensures we remain compliant local acoustic limits.

There is a misconception that data centers drive up power bills. In reality, U.S. power generation has been flat for 20 years, and the grid has suffered from a lack of investment. Several recent studies show that large load users actually act as reliable anchor customers that help distribute the fixed costs of the grid, helping to alleviate some of those pricing pressures. But data centers are also paying their fair share. For example, Aligned has financed our own substations and contributed to transmission costs. In Hillsboro, we even funded a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to help the local utility stabilize the grid for everyone; this did not impact ratepayers.

The idea that data centers consume a lot of water is rooted in an older generation of facilities that relied on evaporative cooling. Aligned uses an air-cooled heat rejection system combined with a closed loop system that recycles pure deionized (DI) water repeatedly in a sealed environment. This design requires water only for the initial closed-loop cooling system fill and subsequent maintenance. Following this, water consumption is limited only to essential non-industrial uses, such as restrooms and general amenities. So, the water Aligned facilities draw is primarily for domestic, everyday use by our onsite employees. To put this in perspective, the Mayor of Northlake, IL, where Aligned operates data centers, recently shared that during that exact same time period, a single local laundromat consumed over two and a half times more water than our entire two-building campus in Northlake.

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Questions?

We know you may have questions, and we’re here to help. Reach out to our team anytime at [email protected]—we’re committed to keeping you informed.