Fort Worth to vote on data center moratorium
Local organizers in Fort Worth are pushing for a data center moratorium, with the city council set to vote on initiating the process on August 11th. This move aims to establish deliberate policies for data center development amidst a surge in applications across Texas. The final vote on the moratorium itself is scheduled for December 8th.
Local organizers in Fort Worth, Texas, are advocating for a data center moratorium, expressing satisfaction that the city is moving towards a vote on initiating the process. A spokesperson highlighted the need for deliberate policies, noting a concern that people responsible for regulations may not fully understand the technology.
The process for enacting a data center moratorium in Texas involves an initial municipal vote, followed by a 30-day public posting, two public hearings 30 days apart, and then a final affirmative vote. While the ultimate vote on the moratorium is scheduled for December 8th, an initial vote to commence this process will take place on August 11th.
The discussion acknowledged the necessity of AI and compute technology, likening AI data centers to a new type of utility. However, the speaker questioned the need for over 300 data center applications currently filed in the state of Texas.