Fort Worth City Council Issues Moratorium on New Data Centers
The Fort Worth City Council has issued a temporary 90-day moratorium on new data center projects, citing concerns over infrastructure demands, environmental impacts, noise, and water usage. The city is also establishing a data center commission and will require evidence of ERCOT interconnection approval for new applications. This decision aims to allow time to evaluate impacts and develop new regulatory frameworks for data center development.
Fort Worth City Council unanimously enacted a temporary, initial 90-day moratorium on new data center projects following growing public concern over infrastructure demands, potential environmental impacts, noise, and water usage. Mayor Mattie Parker stated the pause allows the city to evaluate these impacts, along with land-use compatibility, and to develop data-backed frameworks. The moratorium will not take effect until state-mandated steps are completed.
In addition to the moratorium, the City Council is establishing the Fort Worth Data Center and Infrastructure Commission, to be led by Dr. Mike Slattery of Texas Christian University. This commission will guide the city in developing its framework. Furthermore, new data center applications will now be required to include evidence of grid interconnection approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and ERCOT, aligning with Governor Greg Abbott
yu2019s statewide audit and temporary pause on data center development. The actions reflect a response to widespread opposition to AI data center development, with polls indicating significant public concern.