Fort Worth City Council Begins Process to Enact 90-Day Data Center Moratorium

The Fort Worth City Council unanimously voted on August 11 to initiate a 90-day moratorium on new data center construction within city limits. This decision followed advocacy from State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, who urged the council to signal to state lawmakers that corporations should not push energy and water costs onto Texas families. Mayor Mattie Parker acknowledged data centers' importance for the economy and national security, while also stressing the need to address infrastructure demands and environmental impacts.

Enactment of the moratorium is contingent upon the city adhering to state-mandated steps outlined in Chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code, including specific notice, public hearing requirements, and two readings of the ordinance separated by at least 28 days. The city must also provide written findings justifying the moratorium based on preventing shortages of public facilities or inadequacy of existing ordinances. The moratorium will not apply to projects already approved or those with submitted zoning applications, nor to data centers outside city limits supplied by its municipal water system.

In conjunction with the moratorium process, Fort Worth established the Fort Worth Data Center and Infrastructure Commission, to be led by Dr. Mike Slattery of Texas Christian University. The city also passed an ordinance requiring all new data center applicants to demonstrate prior grid connection approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Upon the conclusion of the moratorium, which can be extended for an additional 90 days, the city is required to adopt new development regulations.