FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth City Council is considering a 90-day moratorium on new data center developments as residents and community leaders call for more time to study the facilities’ effects on neighborhoods and infrastructure.
Fort Worth has four existing data centers and at least four more under development. The proposed moratorium would not take effect immediately and would require a report and public hearings before the city could implement the pause.
The council is also considering a resolution to create a data center committee that would include at least three community members.
Dozens of residents signed up to speak during Tuesday’s council meeting. Most speakers supported the proposed moratorium and committee, while some questioned whether 90 days would give the committee enough time to study the issue and develop regulations.
Community leaders also held a news conference before the meeting and called for greater public participation in decisions involving data center development.
“We’re the ones who have to deal with the infrastructure strain, the neighborhood impact, the physical consequences,” said Annie Zadeh, executive director of Community Design Fort Worth. “Asking for a time to evaluate isn’t defiance, it’s stewardship.”
Krista Erbe, a community organizer with the 2871 Coalition, said residents want development that includes community input.
“We want Fort Worth to get this right the first time. We are not anti-development. We are pro-development done with the community, not around it,” Erbe said.
Five City Council members called for the moratorium in July to give the council time to review and refine regulations governing data centers.
The proposal also comes after Gov. Greg Abbott announced a statewide pause on new data center connections to the Texas power grid while state regulators review their energy and water use and potential effects on nearby communities.
Fort Worth officials have discussed whether to amend city code to align with Abbott’s directive and require proposed data center projects to pass power grid audits before receiving approval.
