Temple City Council takes final vote on data center regulations

The Temple City Council is scheduled to vote on a series of agreements tonight that could facilitate Rowan Digital Infrastructure's multi-billion dollar data center campus. The agenda includes an amended water and wastewater service agreement for Rowan's first phase, alongside new utility agreements for two future phases, collectively covering approximately 1400 acres across three projects: Temple Lasso, Stampede, and Ranger.

In conjunction with these agreements, Rowan Digital Infrastructure is committing to a $38 million investment in Temple's infrastructure. This includes $25 million for South Temple's water infrastructure and $10 million for an aquifer storage and recovery program. An additional $3 million will be directed towards the Salmons Community Center, contingent on the November bond election. While the water infrastructure improvements are partially necessary for Rowan's data center projects, the company asserts that the aquifer storage and recovery investment is primarily for the city's future water storage needs and not directly linked to its operations.

However, the proposed projects have ignited concerns among residents regarding water consumption. Critics, including one unnamed resident, label the aquifer storage and recovery program as a "serious, dangerous proposition," citing the Texas Water Development Board's (TWDB) preference for expanding Lake Belton over such projects due to potential contamination risks. Rowan representative Nathaniel Brown emphasized the company's commitment to the community, stating that their operations would account for less than 0.1% of Temple's current water use and that the infrastructure investments provide a city-wide benefit that would otherwise fall to taxpayers. The Lasso building, a final planned facility in the Temple campus, is also up for a vote.