How Data Center Development Can Support Local Infrastructure  

When Aligned joins a community, our vision naturally extends beyond the boundaries of our campus. We know that the infrastructure surrounding a project shapes how people live, work, and move through the area every single day. That is why we approach data center development with long-term community impact in mind. 

In Hillsboro, Oregon, that commitment recently came to life. As part of our Hillsboro data center campus development, we completed a brand-new roadway connection between Huffman Street and NE Evergreen Parkway. This project wasn’t just about unlocking access to our facility—it was designed to create smoother daily commutes, enhance regional safety, and give emergency responders a vital, direct route when every second counts. 

Built in lockstep with Hillsboro’s local planning and infrastructure teams, this project reflects a shared belief that forward-looking development should always elevate the surrounding neighborhood. 

The Opportunity 

As communities continue experiencing growth, infrastructure needs to evolve alongside them. For Aligned, responsible growth means evaluating how infrastructure investments tied to development projects can also provide practical value to the broader community. 

In Hillsboro, the roadway connection between Huffman Street and NE Evergreen Parkway represented an opportunity to improve connectivity in the area while supporting long-term accessibility and mobility for residents, businesses, and emergency services. 

Empowering the Grid: Innovation in Energy Infrastructure 

Our holistic approach to community infrastructure doesn’t stop at ground level. Just as a new roadway creates a smoother path for daily traffic, innovative utility planning can create a more resilient energy environment for the entire region. 

At our Hillsboro campus, this philosophy is driving a first-of-its-kind Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Developed in close partnership with local utility leaders, this on-site battery storage system functions as a dynamic, grid-responsive asset for the region.

Instead of adding strain to the community’s utilities, this system functions as a dynamic grid asset: 

• Supporting Grid Reliability: The system is engineered to absorb energy during off-peak times and safely discharge stored power during periods of peak regional demand, helping to stabilize the grid when the broader community needs it most. 

• A “Good Grid Citizen” Model: By leveraging smart, on-site energy storage, Aligned accelerates our own timeline to go online without triggering costly, disruptive utility overhauls that could otherwise impact local ratepayers. 

• Prioritizing Operational Excellence: Built to advanced safety benchmarks, the facility utilizes cutting-edge battery technology, 24/7 monitoring, and built-in mitigation layers to ensure safe, quiet, and seamless integration into the area. 

Community Impact 

For Hillsboro residents and business owners, infrastructure updates like this transform the daily rhythm of the neighborhood. Better connectivity means less time spent at intersections and more time doing what matters. 

These infrastructure updates deliver practical benefits across the community:

• Smoother Traffic Flow: Enhancing daily commutes through the surrounding area. 

• Accelerated Emergency Response: Providing first responders with a more direct, unimpeded route. 

• Enhanced Grid Stability: Utilizing cutting-edge BESS technology to support regional energy reliability during peak hours. 

• Responsible Utility Growth: Ensuring advanced data center scaling occurs without burdening local ratepayers or requiring traditional grid disruption. 

Sustainable growth, local job opportunities, and generational planning are all deeply connected. They define how we invest in the spaces we call home. 

Responsible Development in Practice 

This combination of roadway and energy storage innovation is a tangible example of how modern data center development can—and should—work. By aligning with the city’s long-term vision and investing in improvements that benefit everyone, we ensure that our presence leaves a positive, lasting footprint long after construction wraps up. 

As the digital economy evolves, Aligned remains dedicated to working hand-in-hand with local leaders, identifying unique opportunities where technological progress can simultaneously champion community prosperity.