Proposed task force would advise Fort Worth leaders, council on data center regulations

Fort Worth City Council members are considering establishing a community-led task force to advise on data center regulations, coinciding with discussions about a temporary moratorium on new data center permitting and construction. Council member Jeanette Martinez proposed the task force to prioritize public interest and ensure community oversight amid the industry's growth in Fort Worth. The proposal, supported by council member Elizabeth Beck and others, would require majority council approval.

Martinez's initiative follows her support for a city-wide data center moratorium, expected for council discussion on August 4 and a vote on August 11. Residents and environmental groups, including the Fort Worth Environmental Coalition of Communities and the Greater Fort Worth Sierra Club, have voiced concerns over data centers' impact on natural resources like water and electricity. John MacFarlane of the Sierra Club expressed cautious optimism about the task force, while Teena James of the Echo Heights Stop Six Environmental Coalition called for more robust developer accountability.

Currently, four data centers operate in Fort Worth, with six more proposed. Projects by Black Mountain and Edged Data Centers are already underway and would not be affected by the proposed moratorium. The task force, if approved, would function in an advisory capacity, providing recommendations to city leaders without decision-making power. Its formation aims to develop "thoughtful, balanced and enforceable regulations" during the potential 90-day moratorium period.