Last Thursday, the meeting room of the Emily Fowler Library reached capacity within minutes. Still the people kept coming, and an overflow meeting had to be held at the Bearded Monk.
The topic that pulled such a crowd is not a surprising one: Data centers.
Responding to City Council’s decision to build two data centers in Denton, the local Democratic Socialists of America’s chapter held a town hall to address the issue.
The high turnout sends a clear message: our community is deeply concerned about the issue of data centers.
But at City Hall, the response was different. When Council Member Nick Stevens proposed a work session to discuss a potential moratorium on data centers, his colleagues labeled it a “medium to low priority” issue. One council member joked it was “medium rare.” With a year until new data center projects would be considered, city council thinks it shouldn’t be addressed until we’re closer to a decision date.
The DSA pushes back: the time to take action and organize is now.
“The sooner we let city hall know our community’s stance on data centers, the more time we’ll have to negotiate a plan that benefits our community. If we wait until next year, when the tech companies come waving their dollars, our local concerns will not have as much impact. This is not an issue where we can afford to wait.”
The Fast Facts: What’s Coming to Denton
Two data centers have been approved for the city of Denton so far. Here’s the essential information you need to know.
Core Scientific at a Glance
- Started operating in Denton April 2022 as a crypto mining facility
- This facility was approved in the hope its profits would pay off our city’s energy debt
- The operation went bankrupt after only 8 months of operation
- They’ve now pivoted to AI, expanding its lease to 78 acres and 394 megawatts of energy usage
- Will be constructed at 8171 Jim Christal Rd
- Expected to be complete in 2027
QumulusAI at a Glance
- Approved by city council in January 2026
- Purchased 4 acres of land and 20 megawatts of power
- Constructed by Western Boulevard and Jim Christal Road, near the RD Wells substation
- Plans to be operational by 2028
Are We Digging a Deeper Hole?
City Council’s decision to build data centers isn’t just an attempt to cash in on the AI boom. It’s their bid to escape a $140 million energy debt.
Winter Storm Uri froze Denton’s gas lines in 2021, forcing the city to purchase $240 million in energy in just four days, priced high on the low-supply market. This debt has been haunting the city ever since.
In 2022, the city approved the construction of CoreScientific’s cryptomining facility, hoping its revenue would offset the costs of the winter storm. But in just 8 months, CoreScientific went Chapter 11 bankrupt, and the promised revenue never came. Denton energy prices still rose in 2024 by $120 a year on average.
The city, scrambling to make up the loss, is looking to cash in on Texas’ next big industry: data centers.
And with the speculation surrounding the AI bubble, it’s a risky bet. According to the DSA’s presentation, 95% of AI companies as of July 2026 have received zero return on investment, and 80% of industrial projects related to AI fail. If the AI bubble pops, the city will once again be left holding the bag — with data centers heating up our communities and energy costs continuing to rise.
“The environmental impacts of these data centers will be felt first by the low income communities these data centers build in. From the noise pollution to the heat they generate — they’ll suffer most while receiving no benefits from this construction.”
Even worse? When negotiating the construction of data centers earlier this year, there were discussions of “power down restrictions” — cutting power to data centers during grid strain (weather events, blackouts, high-demand periods). During the town hall, the DSA noted that the energy company claimed power-down restrictions were impossible to implement, citing fire risks from the data center’s massive power draw.
A concerned audience member shares:
“It feels like a parasite on our community — so much is being put at risk all for the slight chance of profit. It’s an unwanted, unpopular industry that doesn’t enrich our community. It’s a risk I’m not willing to take.”
The Essential Conversation of Class
The DSA frames data centers as a class issue — drawing on its roots in the labor movement to highlight the importance of collective action. DSA Denton co-chair Laura Coate warns us of the empty promises of “innovation” made by tech companies.
“While tech companies like to make bold promises for the future, the reality is that the working class does not benefit from the construction of data centers. There are no proper systems in place to protect against the coming job loss, environmental damage, weapons, or surveillance technology these centers support — they instead further concentrate the wealth of the ruling class. They’re building faster than the people can negotiate, and that’s a very intentional strategy.”
While the promise of AI innovation is certainly vague, the science of its environmental and social consequences is very real. It’s a familiar story we see play out repeatedly under capitalism. The benefits flow upward, the costs flow downward, and the promised “innovation” seems to hit the communities that need it most, last.
So if our community as a whole does not benefit from data centers — then why are we still building them?
The People Have the Power: And Here’s How We’ll Use It
The town hall event was so popular that people had to be turned away, and this attendance represents only a small percentage of Dentonites who oppose data centers. If we continue to build on this conversation, our community voice will have enough momentum to make serious change.
And this isn’t just a dream. Nationwide, grassroots efforts have had the largest impact against data center construction.
DSA Denton’s research shows that in just the first three months of 2026:
- Local opposition blocked $130 billion in data center developments
- 155 moratoriums have been enacted across the United States
- 11 permanent bans have been passed
- San Marcos became the first city in Texas to pass a ban on data centers
One community member showed up wearing their “Frack Free Denton” shirt — a reminder of our city’s long history of grassroots resistance. In 2014, the group Frack Free Denton won a decisive victory, passing a ban on fracking with 59% of the vote. Although the ban was later overturned by the state, the campaign proved that organized citizens can beat well-funded industry interests—and it reminds us we can do it again.
“The city of Denton has a long history of grassroots resistance, and I’m here to remind us all of the power we hold. The system is broken, but that doesn’t mean we don’t fight. We want to be involved in these conversations — but we won’t get in the room if we don’t organize.”
Frack Free Denton used a variety of techniques to get their voice heard. They organized informational dinners and invited community members to attend. They knocked door to door to spread the word. They attended city hall meetings and made sure their voices were louder than the dollars of the oil industry. Their actions led to real change within the city of Denton — and it reminds us we can do it again.
Moratoriums work because they buy time. Time that allows communities to research, organize, and demand better protections. It delays rapid construction that meets no demand, cushioning our city against the potential AI bubble bursting. It gives our council more time to make an informed decision and review all the relevant science on data centers’ environmental impacts.
With over 300+ applications to join the power grid, companies are more desperate than ever to build their centers. With such high demand, now is the time to negotiate and ensure that our community demands are met.
How to Exercise Your Power
Write to City Council
This is the #1 job. It takes just 3 minutes, and tells them the community is watching.
- Write to City Hall using this link: CLICK HERE
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and find the City Hall Contact form. Let them know how you feel about data centers being built in our city.
Stay Informed and Connected
- Follow DSA Denton to learn about their upcoming events and stay informed.
- Follow DFW Over Data Centers
Advocate and Organize
- Talk to your community members about the local movement
- Share how successful movements have operated in the past.
- Emphasize the collective power of our community voice.
- Share resources on ways to fight back
- Share zines, flyers, and repost events on social media
- Provide support for neighbors who want to get involved.
- Offer rides to protests, city hall meetings, and organizational events.
Vote
- Elect officials who listen to the voice of residents, not corporations.
The Question Denton Has to Answer
Another community member put it plainly:
“Now’s the time to put pressure on our City Council Members and remind them who gave them their jobs. If they won’t respond to the needs of the community, they aren’t doing their jobs — we can’t let them forget that.”
The community is ready to fight.
The question now is: is city council ready to listen?
This article is based on reporting from the DSA Denton town hall held at Emily Fowler Library. The DSA Denton chapter can be reached at DSA Denton.
