Here’s who will advise Fort Worth on data center strategy
Fort Worth is establishing a "Data Center & Infrastructure Commission" to advise the city on data center developments, including issues like noise, water, power, and zoning. The commission will provide recommendations to the City Council by November 3, ahead of a public hearing on a potential 90-day data center moratorium. This initiative follows calls from council members and community activism for a moratorium and the adoption of new regulatory requirements for developers.
The City of Fort Worth is forming a "Fort Worth Data Center & Infrastructure Commission" to guide its strategy on data center developments. This commission, announced by a city spokesperson, is expected to include up to 11 members, including local residents and a TCU professor, Mike Slattery, who will lead the group as director for the Institute of Environmental Studies.
The creation of the commission, initially proposed by City Council member Jeanette Martinez in late July, was approved by the City Council on August 11. Martinez emphasized that the commission would provide expert insight on critical issues such as noise, water, power consumption, and zoning decisions. During the same meeting, the City Council also began the process for a potential 90-day moratorium on new data centers and adopted new regulatory requirements for developers.
Key community figures involved in data center activism, Krista Erbe and Ambika Sharma, who have advocated for a moratorium, will also serve on the commission. Martinez expressed confidence in the group's transparency and commitment to sustainability and residents' needs. The commission is tasked with submitting a report and recommendations to the City Council by November 3, ahead of a public hearing on the proposed moratorium scheduled for November 10. The article notes that commission meetings will not be public, a point for which the city did not immediately provide clarification.