Denton Residents Push for Data Center Ban or Moratorium Amid Environmental Concerns
A standing-room-only community meeting highlighted growing calls for a data center ban or moratorium as residents raised concerns over environmental impacts, water use and future development.
DENTON — Some City Council members labeled the issue of data centers in Denton a medium- to low-priority concern. The people gathered at a standing-room-only informational meeting Thursday night would certainly beg to differ.
The meeting, organized by DSA Denton and Revolutionary Front DFW and held at the Emily Fowler Library, was intended to share research with residents, discuss the most pressing concerns and determine the next steps forward.
“We are very concerned about their impacts on our environment, our health and our power grid,” said Laura Coates, co-chair of DSA Denton.
Presentation Focused on Denton
The first part of the meeting focused on the nationwide debate over data centers before turning to Denton-specific concerns, including the city’s two existing facilities operated by Core Scientific and QumulusAI.
The presentation also included a clip from the June 2 City Council meeting, where District 2 Council Member Nick Stevens proposed a work session to discuss how Denton should handle future data center applications.
“The pitch is pretty straightforward,” Stevens told fellow council members. “I’m not asking for anyone to have an opinion on it. I’m asking for a discussion so we can form an opinion on it.”
Stevens noted the issue was clearly important to the community and said discussion was warranted.
Council Comments Draw Reaction
District 1 Council Member Jordan Villareal rated the issue a “medium” priority, while District 4 Council Member Joe Holland called it a low priority. District 3 Council Member Suzi Rumohr described it as a “medium rare” issue before discussion ended.
Those comments drew audible groans from residents attending Thursday night’s meeting.
Following the presentation, attendees participated in a brief Q&A session and shared their concerns.
One resident urged people to contact their council representatives and make it clear that while some elected officials may see data centers as a low priority, many residents do not.
Part of a National Debate
The meeting comes as data centers have become a hot-button issue across the country, prompting packed city meetings and protests in multiple communities.
According to a Reuters report, at least 125 data center protests were planned for Saturday, coordinated by the grassroots organization Humans First. The group says it is protesting the “unaccountable buildout of data centers and unacceptable infringement on our liberty.”
A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only about one-third of Americans approve of the current pace of data center construction in the United States.
Although Humans First co-founder Amy Kremer compared the movement to the early Tea Party movement, she said opposition to data centers crosses political lines.
“They just woke up one day and found out they’re going to have this monstrosity in their community, and they don’t want it,” Kremer said, predicting data centers could become a defining issue in future elections.
What’s Next
Coates said organizers plan to continue informing residents, including those who were unable to attend Thursday’s meeting because the room had reached capacity.
The groups plan to canvass Denton on July 24, speaking with residents and encouraging greater community involvement.
“It’s really about continuing the conversation,” Coates said. “There are a few practical steps forward, but it is really about forming communities to take action.”
Editor’s Note: Background information on nationwide protests, polling and comments from Humans First was sourced from a Reuters report.