Temple mayor addresses data center concerns in letter to residents

Temple Mayor Timothy Davis has publicly responded to growing community concerns regarding data center development within the city, emphasizing that these projects are subject to careful regulation and are projected to generate substantial long-term revenue for residents. In a letter to the community, Mayor Davis directly addressed common criticisms, including water usage, electricity demands, noise pollution, traffic increases, and overall environmental impact stemming from both existing and proposed data center facilities. Regarding water consumption, Davis clarified that the data centers utilize closed-loop cooling technology, requiring an initial system charge of approximately 2 million gallons of water designed to circulate for 10 to 12 years. He further noted that daily domestic water use by these facilities is capped at 4,000 gallons, which he compared to the consumption of a typical sit-down restaurant. The mayor affirmed the city's authority to mandate mechanical devices to ensure compliance with these water caps. Addressing electricity concerns, Davis explained that the broader power grid is managed by ERCOT, Oncor, and state-level policy, not the Temple City Council. He argued that rejecting local data center projects would not mitigate electrical grid impacts, as developments elsewhere in the region would still affect the statewide grid and associated investment decisions. Financially, Davis highlighted that each "Rowan project" is anticipated to contribute around $7 million in city revenue during its initial 10-year tax abatement period, with this figure increasing to approximately $12 million annually once abatements expire. These revenues, he stated, are crucial for funding essential public services like safety, infrastructure, and quality-of-life improvements without imposing additional burdens on local taxpayers. The mayor also refuted accusations of self-interest among city officials, labeling such claims as "blatantly false."