HomeMy WebLinkAbout26-6364 - City Council - Resolution (2)RESOLUTION 26-6364
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH THE
FORT WORTH DATA CENTER & INFRASTRUCTURE
COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that data center development is a
rapidly evolving and impactful matter for the country, state of Texas, and the City of
Fort Worth (City) due to changing technology and the growth of artificial intelligence
(AI); and
WHEREAS, the City Council values transparency and accountability in
decision -making, fostering trust among diverse stakeholders and finds it necessary to
engage academic and industry experts, alongside community representation, to
establish evidence -based recommendations regarding data center development; and
WHEREAS, on August 3, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Public
Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas
(ERCOT) to conduct a comprehensive verification and audit of all data centers
advancing through ERCOT's interconnection process and directed that the PUCT and
ERCOT must complete this audit before any data center project moves forward; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's action effectively establishes a temporary
moratorium at the State level on new data center development that will impact new
local data center development; and
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with this Resolution, City Council is
considering an ordinance requiring every application by a data center for a
predevelopment conference, plat, replat, building permit, or any other permit
necessary for development to include written documentation showing that the
proposed data center has all necessary permits and approvals required by the Public
Utility Commission of the State of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of
Texas; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that, in light of the Governor's
letter and community feedback, the establishment of a Fort Worth Data Center &
Infrastructure Commission (DCIC) is in the best interest of the residents and business
community of the City of Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, the DCIC will be tasked with conducting a comprehensive, fact -
based evaluation of data center development, focusing on the scope as set forth below;
and
WHEREAS, the DCIC shall be comprised of experts in various fields such as
environmental studies, electricity, water, economic development, data center
operations and technology infrastructure, and natural resource management, along
with neighborhood representation within the City's regulatory authority; and
WHEREAS, the DCIC is tasked with providing advice and recommendations
to the City Council regarding data center policies and development regulations; and
WHEREAS, such advice and recommendations shall be produced in a final
report provided to the City Council by November 3, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS THAT:
1. The City Manager is directed to establish the Fort Worth Data Center &
Infrastructure Commission (DCIC).
2. Dr. Mike Slattery, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Environmental Studies,
Texas Christian University, shall be retained to manage and direct the commission,
including selecting Commission members for the required positions set forth herein,
establishing a meetings schedule and ensuring the orderly conduct of all meetings,
and preparing and submitting a report as required herein. Selection of Commission
members shall be made with the input of City Councilmembers, provided that the
three community representatives set forth below shall be selected from qualified
persons submitted by City Councilmembers.
3. The DCIC shall consist of no more than 11 voting members, which shall be
Fort Worth residents where feasible, and shall include the following:
• One (1) representative from the economic development business sector;
• One (1) industry expert in data center operations or technology infrastructure;
• One (1) environmental or natural resource management specialist;
• One (1) representative from local electric provider;
• One (1) representative from Tarrant Regional Water District;
• Three (3) community representatives with demonstrated knowledge in at least one
of the following areas: (i) the City's development, policies, and regulations; (ii)
technology infrastructure; (iii) environmental management; or (iv) natural resource
management;
• One (1) representative from an environmental advocacy organization; and
• Two (2) community members, which shall be selected in the manner set forth under
Section 2 of this Resolution.
4. The City Manager shall provide necessary support to the DCIC, including staff assistance
and the furnishing of resources, all within the parameters of existing budgeted appropriations. The
City Manager or his designee shall serve as an ex -officio member of the Commission.
5. The Fort Worth Data Center & Infrastructure Commission is charged with
conducting a comprehensive, fact -based evaluation of data center development
focusing on the following:
A. Electricity and Energy
• Impact of ERCOT-projected large -load growth on reliability and pricing for
Fort Worth ratepayers
• Impact of data centers bringing their own generation, co -locating with power,
or providing flexible options
B. Water Use and Local Resources
• Cooling technology and water demand under North Texas climate and drought
conditions
• TRWD capacity considerations
C. Land Use, Siting, and Neighborhood Impacts
• Setbacks, noise, lighting, and screening standards near residential districts,
informed by the concerns raised in neighborhoods
• Equity considerations, ensuring impacts are not concentrated in historically
industrialized or underserved neighborhoods
D. Economic Development and Fiscal Impacts
• Employment and tax -base benefits, weighed against incentive costs, including
transparent criteria
6. The Fort Worth Data Center & Infrastructure Commission shall deliver its final report on
its evaluation of data center development to the City Council by November 3, 2026,
except as extended by the City Manager. The report shall include recommendations
related to policy and regulations within the City's regulatory authority for data center
development.
7. The Fort Worth Data Center & Infrastructure Commission shall cease to exist
upon the submittal of its final report unless otherwise abolished or continued
by a majority vote of the City Council.
8. This resolution shall be effective from and after its passage by the City
Council.
Adopted this August 11, 2026.
ATTEST:
By:
Jannette S. Goodall, City Secretary
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