Fort Worth residents push for moratorium on data center growth
Fort Worth residents are urging city leaders to enact a moratorium on new data center developments, citing concerns over environmental impact, water usage, and noise. The Fort Worth City Council held a work session to discuss potential regulations, including zoning and utility requirements, though one council member expressed disinterest in a formal moratorium.
Fort Worth, Texas, is experiencing a heated debate over data center growth, prompting residents to advocate for a moratorium on new developments. On Tuesday, residents gathered at City Hall to press for a pause, coinciding with a Fort Worth City Council work session on future data center projects.
Jalyn Gordon, a Fort Worth resident and founder of The Communiversity, voiced significant concerns about the rapid proliferation of data centers across North Texas, specifically mentioning the Black Mountain data center in southeast Fort Worth. Gordon cited worries about environmental impacts, water usage, and noise, viewing the growth as part of a "techno fascist strategy." Ann Zadeh of Community Design Fort Worth echoed these sentiments, highlighting the city's lack of specific zoning ordinances or regulations for data centers and emphasizing the need for more resident input.
The City Council's work session focused on establishing parameters for data center development, covering zoning, noise regulations, water utility requirements, and economic development. Councilmember Michael Crain acknowledged the need to balance residents' quality of life with commercial growth, stating that while he doesn't support a formal moratorium, he believes a "natural moratorium" will occur due to state-level approval requirements. Crain issued a statement affirming Fort Worth's commitment to setting "best-in-class standards" for data center development to protect neighborhoods.
The Black Mountain site plan's zoning request is scheduled for June 23, with further discussions on zoning rules slated for August 11, indicating ongoing municipal engagement with data center regulations.