Fort Worth data center promises sustainability. Residents ask for transparency

Fort Worth residents, led by the newly formed 2871 Community Coalition, are actively opposing a proposed data center development by Edged Data Centers and its developer PMB Capital, pressing city officials for transparency on the project's environmental impact and resource usage. During a packed meeting at Rolling Hills Elementary, residents voiced concerns about the lack of information and the impact of the facility on local neighborhoods, particularly regarding water and energy consumption. City Council member Michael Crain acknowledged the community's growth concerns and stated his district encompasses the site of the data center. The City Council had previously approved Edged Data Center's request to zone 186 acres in Veale Ranch for intensive commercial and medium industrial use in June. Economic development staff have recommended a tax abatement, which would provide Edged a 50% property tax break in exchange for 50 jobs and a minimum average salary of $73,000, and is slated for a City Council vote on March 31. In response to public queries, Edged Data Centers and PMB Capital detailed their plans for resource efficiency, including a waterless cooling method and consultation with Oncor to manage an independent electricity substation to minimize strain on the state grid, overseen by ERCOT. Developer Taylor Baird from PMB Capital also explained how the tax revenue from the facility would contribute to the Veale Ranch master plan, enabling other community developments. However, residents remain critical, demanding clarity on the project's overall community value and citing a perceived lack of transparency from the city. The article also notes similar opposition to a data center campus planned by Black Mountain in southeast Fort Worth and Forest Hill.