Texas Data Center DevelopmentTexas Data Center DevelopmentCoverage from Data Center Dynamics, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, and others
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Data-center development in Texas brings local decisions about where facilities can be built, how they connect to power and water systems, and what impacts nearby communities may face.
In Fort Worth, proposals including projects associated with Edged Data Centers and Black Mountain have prompted debate over zoning, tax incentives, utility demand, and protections such as setbacks and noise controls. Residents and local officials have also raised questions about moratoria, public participation, and the balance between economic development and community interests. These local choices sit alongside broader questions about infrastructure costs and state and local authority.
Its verified $83 million property-tax estimate gives the fiscal benefit a concrete counterweight to local-impact concerns.
KERA / Scott Nishimura
Key Issues
01
Fort Worth’s regulatory path remains unsettled
The Zoning Commission rejected the proposed ordinance, delaying broad zoning action, while the city pursues a time-limited moratorium process rather than a confirmed permanent halt. Grid-approval requirements and additional review are shaping the path to future permits.
Drawn from 4 articles
02
Local approvals are tied to resource and siting safeguards
Texas communities are linking data-center approvals to resource disclosures or capacity checks, infrastructure studies, and land-use limits. Some controls are already in force while others remain proposals, leaving requirements uneven across cities.
Drawn from 4 articles
03
Tax benefits compete with local-impact concerns
Fort Worth estimates that four data centers generated $83 million in gross property taxes over five years, giving the fiscal upside concrete weight. Officials and residents are weighing that revenue against infrastructure demands, neighborhood effects, and the projects’ broader local returns.
Drawn from 4 articles
Key Numbers
$83 million USD
gross property-tax revenue generated by four data centers
over five years; city estimate
“In Fort Worth, property taxes make up about 60% of the city’s general fund, which pays for most basic services. The city estimated that four data centers generated $83 million in gross property-tax revenue over five years.”
KERA and 1 other article
about 60% percent
property taxes’ share of Fort Worth’s general fund
the general fund pays for most basic services
“In Fort Worth, property taxes make up about 60% of the city’s general fund, which pays for most basic services. The city estimated that four data centers generated $83 million in gross property-tax revenue over five years.”
KERA
two data centers
approved data centers whose operating impacts and returns the city would study
once operational
“Mayor Pro Tem Nick Stevens, who proposed the moratorium, said the pause would allow the city to study whether infrastructure demand, environmental impacts and financial returns for two approved data centers match projections once they are operational.”
Denton Record-Chronicle
300-foot feet
setback from structures, equipment and outdoor storage adjacent to residential uses or districts
proposed requirement
“The proposed changes would require a specific-use permit for warehouse data centers in light industrial, heavy industrial and public facility districts; prohibit them in mixed-use regional, suburban corridor, highway corridor and general office districts; and require a 300-foot setback from structures, equipment and outdoor storage when adjacent to residential uses or districts.”
Denton Record-Chronicle
90 days
Possible moratorium extension
The council could extend the moratorium
“The proposed moratorium would pause development of new data center construction for 90 days, giving council members time to understand what they can legally do to address community concerns and potentially ban additional data centers in Denton. The council could extend the moratorium for another 90 days.”
KERA
Looking Back
148 Day Timeline
Articles published over time. Hover any bar for the period and its article count.
May 13
Jun 6
Jun 30
Jul 24
Aug 17
Sep 10
Oct 4
The Story So Far
No material change
There was no material change: the new reporting reiterates Fort Worth’s proposed temporary pause and the tax benefits already part of the debate.
Previously
North Texas cities are weighing new limits on data center development as proposed campuses raise questions about neighborhood impacts, water use, electricity demand, and public incentives. Fort Worth has delayed broader zoning action while considering water rules and a possible temporary moratorium; Denton is also considering permits, setbacks, and a pause. The proposals remain at different stages, so their eventual effect on project approvals and timelines is not yet clear.
History
10/05/2026
Fort Worth’s Zoning Commission did not recommend approval of the proposed ordinance, adding a specific source of resistance behind delayed council action. New tax figures also quantify the fiscal benefits officials are weighing against local impacts.
Fort Worth City Council initiated a potential 90-day data center moratorium and created an advisory commission in Fort Worth after concerns about water, power, land use, and neighborhood impacts.
Fort Worth officials are considering a data center moratorium, advisory commission and grid-approval filing requirement in Fort Worth, Texas, with public hearings and a possible council vote planned.
Edged Data Centers filed a Fort Worth permit for Project Outpost on August 3 as residents opposed new facilities and the city began considering a moratorium.
Fort Worth officials reassessed data center zoning rules and a potential moratorium after Greg Abbott ordered Texas audits before projects receive grid connections.
Fort Worth, Texas officials scheduled an Aug. 11 City Council vote on beginning a temporary moratorium process for new data center development amid resident and activist opposition.
Fort Worth residents can comment until July 15 as City Council considers Aug. 11 data-center regulations and a Texas-required legal moratorium process.
Fort Worth, Texas, delays City Council votes on new data center regulations and advances water-use rules, including water-loading studies and closed-loop cooling, after zoning commission rejection.
7/13/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Fort Worth Star-Telegram / Emily Holshouser and Harrison Mantas69
Fort Worth City Council initiated a state-law moratorium process for new data center applications on July 9 while drafting updated zoning and water-use rules.
Fort Worth, Texas, prepares updated data-center regulations and a potential temporary moratorium, with City Council review expected in August and a decision no earlier than December.
Fort Worth, Texas, zoning officials recommended denying a proposed data-center ordinance on July after public testimony, while city leaders planned a moratorium at the Aug. 11 council meeting.
Five Fort Worth City Council members requested a temporary pause on new data center construction after two public meetings and zoning rejection amid noise, water, and energy concerns.
Fort Worth Zoning Commission voted 7-4 on July 8 to recommend denial of proposed data center zoning rules, moving the decision to Fort Worth City Council on Aug. 11.
Fort Worth Zoning Commission holds a public feedback hearing on new data-center zoning amendments addressing noise, water use, and neighborhood impacts.
Lewisville City Council approved a June 15 ordinance requiring AI data centers to obtain special-use permits and limiting siting to industrial districts.
Lewisville City Council approved a June 12 ordinance requiring data centers to receive Special Use Permits after Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council hearings.
Fort Worth officials proposed Aug. 11 data center regulations in Texas, including a ban on cryptocurrency-mining-focused sites and new noise and water requirements.
Fort Worth city leaders will expand public and council review of Edged Data Centers and other projects after resident concerns over power, water, and land use.
Fort Worth City Council delayed a vote on a Black Mountain data center site plan from earlier in the year to a June 23 meeting after a June 2 staff briefing.
Laredo City Council directed staff to develop permanent regulations for potential data centers and other high-demand industries in Laredo, Texas, instead of imposing a temporary moratorium.
Fort Worth residents question data center water and energy impacts as QTS, Microsoft, Black Mountain, Edged, and CyrusOne cite cooling and power mitigation plans.
Fort Worth City Council created a data center commission on Aug. 11 and began a moratorium process to address electricity, water, land-use, and neighborhood concerns in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and the City Council advanced a potential 90-day data center moratorium in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 11, 2026, after zoning commissioners opposed proposed regulations.
Denton City Council is scheduled to vote Oct. 13 on tighter data center zoning rules in Denton, Texas, with a separate moratorium hearing set for Oct. 27.
Denton City Council directed staff Tuesday in Denton, Texas, to draft tighter data center rules and consider a temporary moratorium over anticipated infrastructure and neighborhood impacts.
Fort Worth City Council members will discuss and vote in August on a proposed 90-day data center moratorium and community task force for Fort Worth, Texas.
Fort Worth City Council is set to vote in August on proposed data center zoning changes after a June 30 open house, amid resident opposition and ethics disclosure scrutiny.
After a data center panel at TribFest in Austin, Texas leaders and Fort Worth officials weighed development benefits and local impacts ahead of possible state regulation in 2027.
10/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Fort Worth City Council advanced a proposed 90-day data center construction moratorium in August amid local concerns about tax benefits, power, water and neighborhood impacts.
10/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Lubbock City Council approved land-use changes in Lubbock, Texas, while residents opposed potential hyperscale data centers and a separate CORVA project awaited ERCOT interconnection.
7/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Fort Worth council member Michael Crain requested a June 2 report on data center zoning and utility impacts as residents opposed Edged Data Centers and the tax break application was withdrawn.
5/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Missouri City, Texas, adopted zoning rules in May requiring energy and water disclosures and public hearings for new data center permits as Houston-area growth accelerates.
Fort Worth’s Wholesale Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee discussed June 11 proposed data center water and wastewater regulations tied to peak-demand conservation and utility capital planning in Texas.
Five Dallas City Council members requested a hearing in Dallas to consider data center zoning changes as Fort Worth and Texas pursue broader regulatory reviews.
Lubbock City Council unanimously approved a non-binding resolution in Lubbock, Texas, pausing large-scale data center development until enforceable public-resource, health, and safety regulations are adopted.
Laredo City Council began developing data-center regulations after residents raised water and environmental concerns during public meetings in Laredo, Texas.
8/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
EverythingLubbock / Caitlyn Rooney and Grace Gates56
Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer said Wednesday that Project Infrared, a 27-megawatt inference data center planned near East Municipal Drive, complies with existing zoning and requires no city council action.
Fort Worth considers new data center development regulations after ethics disclosures involving a Data Center Coalition lobbyist and resident calls for a moratorium.
Fort Worth City Council set a Tuesday hearing on data center zoning and resource-use standards after March 31 delays involving Edged Data Centers and local moratorium demands.
Missouri City, Texas required energy and water usage disclosure and public hearings for proposed data centers after fast regional expansion raised grid and water concerns.
Lubbock City Council voted 5-2 at a city council meeting to begin a 90-day data center moratorium process in Lubbock while staff develop local safeguards.
Fort Worth officials formed a commission led by Michael Slattery to recommend data center regulations before the City Council's November 3, 2026, work session.
Dallas council members requested an August public hearing on possible data center zoning amendments as Fort Worth and Texas officials advanced tighter development oversight.
Lubbock Power and Light is planning a West Loop transmission line in Lubbock, Texas, while requiring prospective data centers to secure approvals and pay connection infrastructure costs.
In Lubbock, Texas, Save Lubbock and Citizens of Lubbock Against Data Centers asked county commissioners to delay or ban large-scale data center projects during public meetings last week.
7/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Wilmer, Texas residents challenged Stream Data Centers construction projects during a community meeting, prioritizing street and water repairs over additional data center growth.
Ethics experts advised Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker to abstain from data center decisions before an Aug. 11 zoning vote, citing public-trust concerns amid limited legal recusal requirements.
6/24/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Mayor Mark McBrayer said Lubbock will hold an early-July community conversation on a potential in-city data center addressing water and electricity impacts.
6/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker denied data-center coalition conflict claims after Texas Ethics Commission filings and amid August votes on siting and zoning rules.
Fort Worth City Council members examine data center proposals on water and electric impacts, slowing projects through zoning, tax, and ERCOT interconnection reviews.
7/16/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Lubbock City Council voted 5-2 at a recent meeting in Lubbock, Texas, to begin the procedure for considering a moratorium on large-scale data center development.
Fort Worth appointed a multidisciplinary Data Center & Infrastructure Commission in August to develop recommendations on data center regulation for the City Council.
Lubbock Economic Development Alliance is evaluating data center proposals in Lubbock and West Texas while emphasizing tax impacts, unincorporated development, water sustainability, and community benefits since 2025.
Fort Worth appointed TCU professor Mike Slattery to lead an 11-member commission developing recommendations on data center energy, water, land, neighborhood, and economic impacts.
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