Temple City Council Approves Data Center Plans Amid Recall Efforts

Name: Temple City Council Approves Data Center Plans Amid Recall Efforts
Uploaded: 2026-05-08T03:23:13.000Z
Duration: 34 s
Description: The Temple City Council voted to approve the annexation and rezoning for the proposed Rowan Data Center project. This decision was made despite significant public opposition, which included concerns about environmental impacts and electricity demand, and ongoing recall efforts against council members.

News Clip0:34KCENNews·Temple, Bell County, TX·5/8/2026

The Temple City Council voted to approve the annexation and rezoning for the proposed Rowan Data Center project. This decision was made despite significant public opposition, which included concerns about environmental impacts and electricity demand, and ongoing recall efforts against council members.

zoningoppositionenvironmentalelectricitygovernment

Gov: Temple City Council

On Thursday night, the Temple City Council voted to advance plans for a proposed Rowan Data Center project, approving the annexation of over 185 acres and rezoning more than 300 acres of land. The decision came after hours of heated public debate, where residents packed Temple City Hall to voice their opposition. Opponents expressed concerns regarding the project's transparency, potential environmental impacts, and its electricity demands.
In contrast, city leaders argued that the annexation would provide Temple with greater oversight and control over the development. The controversy surrounding the data center has also intensified recall efforts against Councilmember Jessica Walker and other unnamed officials, highlighting ongoing community pushback.