BlackRock, Microsoft backers buy Aligned Data Centers for $40B

On Tuesday, July 22, 2026, BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners, the UAE-based technology investment firm MGX, and members of the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership closed their $40 billion（約6.4兆円） acquisition of Aligned Data Centers from Macquarie Asset Management. The deal, first announced in October at the same valuation, represents AIP's first major investment since the partnership's formation in September 2024 by BlackRock, Microsoft, Nvidia, MGX, and Global Infrastructure Partners.

Aligned Data Centers owns over 6.4 gigawatts of operational and planned data center capacity spread across 51 locations, primarily in the United States with additional presence in Mexico and South America. The company will remain headquartered in Dallas and led by CEO Andrew Schaap, who will retain full operational independence. Beyond the $40 billion（約6.4兆円） purchase price, AIP, GIP, and MGX are committing $5 billion（約8000億円） in additional capital for expansion. In a LinkedIn post Tuesday, Schaap praised the deal, saying it will allow Aligned to "move quicker and build bigger than ever before" and called the transaction "among the largest private investments the digital infrastructure sector has ever seen."

The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership was established to initially mobilize $30 billion（約4.8兆円） for AI and data technology and infrastructure, with a total remit to support up to $100 billion（約16兆円） in investments. Since its September 2024 launch, the partnership has added xAI (owned by Elon Musk), Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek, and the Kuwait Investment Authority as members. The group also counts Cisco as a tech partner and has agreements with GE Vernova and NextEra Energy to help scale AI data center infrastructure. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who chairs the AI Infrastructure Partnership, stated that the Aligned investment furthers the group's goal of "delivering the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI, while offering our clients attractive opportunities to participate in its growth."

The deal arrives amid urgent signals about data center resource demands. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association projects that U.S. data center electricity consumption will grow 300% over the next decade and account for around 38% of the country's net electricity consumption through 2037. A Kansas Health Institute report found that U.S. data centers' electricity usage could more than double by 2030 and water usage could double or quadruple by 2028. Regulatory pressure is intensifying: New York recently became the first state to impose a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center construction using 50 megawatts or more of energy, with Governor Kathy Hochul pausing all such projects while regulators develop a framework to address environmental and community impacts.

The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership, formed just over a year before this deal closed, represents a coordinated effort by some of the world's largest asset managers and tech leaders to address a critical bottleneck in AI deployment: physical infrastructure. The partnership's $40 billion（約6.4兆円） acquisition of Aligned Data Centers is notably its first investment, signaling both the deliberateness of its capital deployment and the scale of infrastructure needs the group perceives. Aligned's 6.4 gigawatts of capacity and presence across multiple geographies positions it as a significant player in an increasingly urgent sector.

The timing reflects mounting pressure on U.S. energy and water systems. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association projects data center electricity consumption will rise 300% over the next decade and consume around 38% of net U.S. electricity through 2037. A separate Kansas Health Institute report warns that water usage could double or quadruple by 2028. New York's recent one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center construction underscores growing regulatory scrutiny. By securing Aligned and committing an additional $5 billion（約8000億円） in capital, the partnership positions itself to meet AI infrastructure demand while navigating tightening environmental and community constraints.

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