Aligned Data Centers Maryland campus (IAD-04 and IAD-06)
Also called: Aligned IAD04, Aligned IAD-06
Aligned is building a data center campus on the Quantum Frederick site near Adamstown. It plans four buildings using about 260 MW, with 172 diesel backup generators.
Where things stand: First buildings are under construction (topped out March 2026). More buildings planned through 2028.
🕒 Latest update (Oct 2025): Construction began on a second building (IAD-06).
What we know
- 📍 WhereOn the Quantum Frederick campus near Adamstown (coordinates from Baxtel listing), Unincorporated Frederick County, Frederick County
- 🏢 CompanyAligned Data Centers
- 🌳 Size75 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs260 megawatts (about as much as 208,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromGrid power from Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy) substations on the campus.
- 🛢️ Diesel generators172
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Who will use the Aligned buildings? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water will they use per day? 🙋 I'll find out
- When will the first building start running? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Nov 29, 2022Aligned closed on buying land on the campus.
- 2023Aligned stepped back after the state Public Service Commission denied its request for 168 diesel backup generators.
- 2025State environment department approved Aligned's application for 172 diesel backup generators.
- Feb 2025Aligned broke ground on its first building (IAD-04).
- Oct 2025Construction began on a second building (IAD-06).
Local votes and rules
🤝 Agreement with the company
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater turned down a $110 million community benefits deal with Catellus, the Quantum Frederick developer, after residents raised concerns. The deal included money for a school, a park, job training and a fire engine.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater ordered the county to stop taking or reviewing applications for new data centers and their substations. It was first set to end Dec. 31, 2026. In September 2026 she extended it to July 1, 2027. Projects approved before June 2025, including the current Quantum Frederick projects, are not affected.
⚖️ Court case
Residents gathered more than 21,000 signatures to put the data center zone map to a public vote. Data center companies and landowners sued. A circuit judge and then the Maryland Supreme Court ruled the map could not go on the ballot. The court said the map is not a law that can be put to a vote, and the petition was unclear.
⚖️ Court case
Nearby residents asked a court to review the state air permit for Amazon's diesel backup generators at the Quantum Frederick campus, citing health, noise and air monitoring.
🗺️ Zoning change
The county council voted 5-2 to approve the map of the data center zone: about 2,600 acres north of Adamstown, around the Quantum Frederick campus and the old Alcoa Eastalco plant. That is over 1,000 acres more than the planning commission suggested.
📜 Data center rules
The county council voted 5-2 for Bill 25-09. It creates a special 'overlay' zone. Data centers and their power substations can only be built on land inside this zone. The zone can cover at most 1% of the county, about 4,200 acres.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Quantum Frederick, Frederick County, MD: Maryland Data Center Series, Pt. 3 · Nature Forward · June 26, 2026
- Aligned: Maryland Campus · Baxtel · 2026
- Maryland data center FAQ · The Banner · Aug 25, 2026
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