Fort Worth council member requests data center report ahead of residents meeting

Fort Worth City Council member Michael Crain has submitted a request for an informal report from city staff concerning the evaluation, negotiation, and approval processes for data center projects, along with related incentives. The report, requested on March 23, seeks information on nine specific items, including zoning and development standards, economic incentives, and state-level activities related to AI and data centers. This request precedes a significant meeting scheduled for March 24, where Crain will meet with residents from Fort Worth and Benbrook, alongside representatives from Edged Data Centers. Edged Data Centers proposes to build a $1.1 billion data center on 186 acres located between Interstate 20 and Aledo Road, near the Veale Ranch development. The proposed data center has sparked considerable concern among local residents, particularly those in west Fort Worth who have formed the 2871 Community Coalition. This group, living near the FM 2871/Veale Ranch area, has outlined eight specific requests for the developers, including disclosures on water usage, an independent noise study, an environmental assessment, and financial transparency. Residents fear the project will lead to increased construction traffic, noise pollution, and strain on water resources, impacting not only Fort Worth but also the neighboring city of Benbrook. Benbrook Place 5 council member Sean Moore emphasized the need for Benbrook to have input on aspects of the development that will affect his city and its resources, noting the proximity of Benbrook neighborhoods to the proposed site. The Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to consider the economic development agreement with Edged Data Centers on March 31.