How Fort Worth Became a Sustainable Data Centre Goldmine

Technology giants like Google are championing leading data centre projects in Fort Worth, Texas, helping to solidify North Texas as a technological hub.
As AI and data centre technologies continue to grow at a very fast pace, operators are now focusing their efforts on simultaneously balancing digital transformation, business competition and environmental sustainability.
- Google
- Meta
- QTS Data Centers
- Compass Datacenters
- STACK Infrastructure
It is no secret that big tech is starting to move towards Texas, given its lower cost of living, lower real estate prices, greater tax incentives and less restrictions.
Why Texas?
Data centres are already big business in Texas, with the state’s cheaper electricity prices making it a more desirable option for operators looking for lower power costs. Currently, the state is the second-largest data centre market in the US, behind only Northern Virginia.
Dallas, Texas, is also continuing to emerge as a significant data centre market due to its central location, affordable power and business-friendly environment. The region benefits from a robust fibre network and relatively low risk of natural disasters.
The area has seen substantial growth in hyperscale facilities that cater to cloud providers and large enterprises. In addition, the Dallas data centre market is characterised by its ability to offer scalable solutions and diverse connectivity options.
These types of attractive locations have fast-become competitive for data centres, who are eager to explore the tax revenue and job opportunities on offer.
However, the energy-intensive demands of data centres are still raising concerns, given a facility’s large appetite for water and power to maintain and cool its servers.
A recent study by The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has estimated that data centre power demand across the US could nearly triple within the next three years - and even consume as much as 12% of the country’s electricity.
Confronting sustainability challenges
Whilst data centres are driving energy demands, areas like Texas remain committed to their renewable energy goals. Many technology companies are purchasing wind and solar power to meet their sustainability targets, which in turn is powering renewable energy development nationwide.
One significant consideration as part of this is AI, which continues to literally ‘heat up’ the global technology race for dominance.
Data centres are mission-critical to advancing AI to power key industries, yet its demand for processing power is putting pressure on companies to be sustainable.
In response, President Joe Biden signed an executive order last week to provide federal support to address national energy needs for fast-growing advanced AI data centres.
The order states the departments of Defense and Energy have to each identify at least three sites where the private sector can build AI data centres. These agencies will then run “competitive solicitations” from private companies to build AI-ready data centres on the selected sites.
Biden explained that the order would “accelerate the speed at which we build the next generation of AI infrastructure here in America, in a way that enhances economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy."
In the wake of new US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, it remains to be seen how the White House will now approach data centre transformation.
President Trump has already been vocal about US data centre growth in the run up to his return to office, having agreed to a US$20bn data centre deal at the start of the year with DAMAC Properties to build new data centres across the country.
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