Developer behind $10B Fort Worth data center ‘considering’ Parker County site
Black Mountain, a Fort Worth-based energy consortium developing a $10 billion data center in Fort Worth, is considering Parker County for a data center after purchasing over 2,000 acres just outside the Weatherford city limits — and applying to operate natural gas turbines to power a data center in the same area.
In 2025, according to the Parker County Appraisal District, Black Mountain purchased land worth over $57 million in assessed value near Azle Highway and Pearson Ranch Road, roughly seven miles northeast of downtown Weatherford. The sale prices for the land were not available.
Black Mountain CEO Rhett Bennett said Tuesday that the company was considering a “potential” data center site in the area.
“We are evaluating many sites, only a fraction of which actually make it all the way through development and become an operational project,” Bennett said.
In April 2025, according to TCEQ’s database, Fort Worth Power Core LLC received approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to operate five natural gas turbines at 501 Pearson Ranch Road, at the southern end of the property Black Mountain purchased. The gas turbines, according to the application filed, would provide “backup/bridge power for a new data center.”
TCEQ said that the registration was approved, and is active.
Fort Worth Power Core LLC lists Bennett as its CEO in the application filed with the TCEQ.
Weatherford officials had discussions with Black Mountain in early 2025, Weatherford City Manager James Hotopp said, but the city ultimately decided that annexing the land for a data center was not in the city’s best interest. In January, the city chose not to vote on adding data centers to its zoning code, citing concern from residents.
“We have heard your concerns and, given additional uncertainties, data centers will remain NOT ALLOWED in Weatherford,” a Jan. 16 statement from the city reads.
Bennett said in an email to the Star-Telegram that Weatherford “did not tell us they don’t want us in the city.”
Hotopp disagreed.
“We are not out trying to court them for a data center, that is 100% incorrect,” Hotopp said.
Hotopp said that he was not aware of the TCEQ application until the Star-Telegram asked him about it, but the gas turbines were “concerning” to him.
Bennett said that the city’s Economic Development department has followed up with Black Mountain. Hotopp said there was follow-up about Black Mountain selling their land or using it for another purpose.
Fort Worth Power Core LLC holds TCEQ air emissions permits across Texas, including in Tarrant, Jack, and Somervell counties. Some of the permits contain similar language about data centers, but others say the turbines would be to “generate power for sale.”
The Parker County purchase near Weatherford included several parcels previously owned by DTB Investments LP, which is owned by prominent Boerne-based family real estate company, the duPerier Texas Landman, according to state records. A representative for DTB Investments LP told the Star-Telegram the company could not comment on the land sales or the extent of its knowledge about the proposed data center, citing confidentiality agreements that were part of the sale contracts.
Black Mountain also purchased a smaller portion of the land, encompassing just under 200 acres, from Advantage Opportunities LP, which is owned by Fralin Investments LP, which is owned by Robin Wallace and Jerry Patton. Wallace’s public LinkedIn lists him as the office manager for Advantage Opportunities.
