City Council to discuss future of data centers in Fort Worth as residents push back
The Fort Worth City Council is set to discuss data center regulations, including zoning and resource usage, following significant residential opposition. Residents are concerned about land, energy, water use, and noise, and have launched a campaign for a moratorium on new data center construction in the city. The discussion will inform potential new guidelines for data center development.
The Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to hold a presentation from city staff on data center regulations, driven by increasing community opposition to the proliferation of supercomputer warehouses in the city. Council member Michael Crain indicated this discussion would be the start of more in-depth conversations on zoning, land use, and standards, as well as resource usage, statewide data center trends, and subsidies.
Residents have voiced significant concerns regarding the substantial land, energy, and water consumption by data centers, citing facilities that can use millions of gallons of water daily and hundreds of megawatts of electricity. Noise pollution is also a key concern, though Crain sought to clarify that AI-focused data centers are typically quieter than cryptocurrency mining operations. Developers like Edged Data Centers are proceeding with plans for a 186-acre "waterless" facility in west Fort Worth, despite withdrawing a tax break application and facing continued public pushback.
The discussion comes amidst active resident opposition, including an online campaign launched by the progressive group 817 Gather, which has garnered over 14,000 signatures demanding a moratorium on new data center construction. While Hill County in Texas recently enacted a one-year moratorium, it subsequently faced a $100 million lawsuit from a data center developer. Conversely, Hood County rejected a similar proposal after state officials, including Sen. Paul Bettencourt, questioned counties' authority to impose such bans, suggesting they might face legal challenges from the state. Gov. Greg Abbott has publicly supported drawing big tech and AI development to Texas.
Several specific projects were also highlighted: Black Mountain secured rezoning for 450 acres for a $10 billion data center, though a vote on an additional 80 acres was delayed amid reports of campaign contributions from the CEO to council members. Celestica Inc. received city approval for a 10-year tax break for a data center plant in north Fort Worth. Council members, including Crain and Deborah Peoples, have expressed openness to establishing "guidelines and guardguards" for data center development to ensure safety and benefits for citizens, acknowledging that data centers are a growing industry that requires updated regulation.