Temple council approves Rowan data center deal as residents keep up fight against project
The Temple City Council approved a data center deal with Rowan Digital Infrastructure despite ongoing opposition from residents concerned about local impacts, particularly water usage. The city and Rowan are addressing these concerns, with Rowan committing to fund water projects. The city is also considering implementing new regulations for future data center developments.
The Temple City Council on Thursday voted to approve a data center deal with Rowan Digital Infrastructure, moving forward with the project despite strong opposition from local residents. The council's decision was made during a heated meeting where residents voiced concerns about the data center's potential impacts on their community.
A primary concern for residents is the significant water usage associated with data centers. City leaders and Rowan Digital Infrastructure acknowledged this, stating that water is the "number one issue" raised by the community. Rowan has committed to investing in the city's infrastructure and funding water projects in Bell County to mitigate these concerns and provide benefits to the city for years to come.
Amid the ongoing development, both the city and the county are reportedly exploring the implementation of new regulations for data centers, anticipating more development in the region. Residents, including Royer, co-founder of Temple, continue to express their dissatisfaction and question the budget implications, suggesting that the city council is not adequately addressing their concerns.