Temple residents seek recall of city council over data center plans
Temple residents, organized by Temple Stands Together, held a town hall to oppose new data center developments and launch a recall effort against city council members who approved a recent project. Concerns include transparency, infrastructure strain, and the long-term impact of large data centers on the city's water and energy resources. Organizers plan to continue collecting recall signatures and advocate for a moratorium on future data center projects.
Over 100 Temple residents gathered at a town hall on May 18, organized by the grassroots group Temple Stands Together, to oppose future data center developments and initiate a recall effort against several city council members. The targeted officials include Mayor Tim Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Walker, and Council Member Mike Pilkington, following the council's April vote to advance another data center proposal, specifically for Rowan Digital Infrastructure.
Residents voiced significant concerns regarding the lack of transparency from city leaders and developers, the potential strain on local infrastructure, and the long-term environmental impacts, particularly concerning water and energy demands. Adrian Shelley of Public Citizen highlighted that Temple's 2022 water plan does not adequately account for future data center growth, necessitating legislative action for an updated plan before 2027. Clayton Tucker, a Democratic nominee for Texas agriculture commissioner, emphasized the need for greater accountability from city leaders and developers.
Temple Stands Together, a coalition of hundreds of residents, maintains that city leaders acted too quickly without sufficient public input. Organizer Joe Reyer stated that residents should have more involvement in major decisions impacting the city's future. The group plans to continue collecting recall signatures and will ask local commissioners to consider enacting a moratorium on data center development to allow for more community research and discussion.