Rowan Digital Infrastructure was established in 2020 to provide net-zero power solutions for mission-critical green data centers. We deliver customized and configurable data centers that provide our customers with the flexibility they need to urgently decarbonize their operations.

Our company builds these facilities to our high sustainability standards and then leases them to a hyperscale data center operator - companies like Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Google and Oracle.

The site is located on roughly 700 acres east of downtown Temple and bordered on the west by Rowan’s existing Moriah Data Center and Bob White Road. Interstate 53 is just to the north of the project boundary.

Rowan has been working with less than 10 landowners on this project.

This land has been underutilized for decades. The city of Temple and Bell County have designated this area for future industrial growth, and we plan on annexing the project into the city of Temple at the city’s request.

Under previous company leadership, Rowan completed construction on the Moriah Data Center, which is adjacent to the proposed Temple Data Center project. The Moriah facility became operational in 2023, and a tenant was in place until late 2024, when they vacated the property. After reassessing its value as digital infrastructure and engaging with city officials, Rowan has determined the most appropriate use for the facility is to transition it to a warehouse to support the construction and operations teams at the proposed Temple project. 

Rowan's leadership team has grown significantly since the Moriah facility was built and now includes a number of new executives with decades of experience leading hyperscale companies. Our new team has prioritized transparency, collaboration, and sustainability every step of the way. We intend to be long-term members of the Temple community and are working every day to build trust with all stakeholders.

As our reliance on digital services grows, communities need robust infrastructure to support faster, more reliable internet and cloud access - a need that has been identified by the city of Temple and other local governments. With the Temple Data Center, Rowan is helping to meet that demand, improve service quality, support local businesses, and add resilience in case of outages. It will also bring economic benefits like job creation, community investment, and long-term support for the area's digital growth.

Rowan will conduct a visual impacts study to help our team implement viewshed impact mitigation strategies like vegetation and screening plans. The vegetation will provide a four-season visual screen with clustered and multi-layered rows of trees and shrubs, including native and drought tolerant vegetation, to buffer the project from the adjacent residential properties. All landscaping, screening and buffering will be installed prior to project operation and will be maintained regularly.

Additionally, we’ll be implementing voluntary setbacks of at least 50-feet from neighboring property lines and will be building these facilities to two stories to ensure a smaller overall footprint.

These facilities do not produce high levels of sound when operational. Rowan will conduct a sound study to ensure we are in compliance with local regulations during both construction and facility operations.

The Temple Data Center is expected to bring hundreds of high-quality jobs during construction and several dozen full-time jobs once operational, at wages well above the area average that will boost the local economy significantly. In total, this project represents a more than $1.2B investment in the region over 20 years – which translates to significant increases in tax revenue for the city and county, as well as the Temple and Rogers independent school districts and other taxing jurisdictions.

Rowan has been meeting with city and county leadership, as well as the Temple Economic Development Council, for some time to discuss our plans in Temple. Now, we want to seek feedback from members of the community. We have established an open line of communication with local leaders and residents, and plan to host events to provide an opportunity for the Temple community to meet the Rowan team, ask questions, and provide input on our plans.

If you want to get in touch with the project team, please email Tim Alborg at talborg@rowan.digital.

This site was chosen because the existing utility and Rowan power infrastructure at the Moriah facility can serve this new project – requiring no new transmission or substation construction and enabling it to become operational much faster. This means that community benefits such as local tax revenue and jobs can be delivered on an expedited timeline.

Rowan prioritizes the responsible use of water and has been working closely with the City of Temple to develop a water supply and discharge strategy. Exact water consumption has not yet been finalized; however, Rowan is working with its partners to design and utilize a mechanical cooling system that limits water consumption and reuses water very efficiently. Beyond cooling, the data center will use a small amount of water for employee facilities.

As part of our sustainability commitments, Rowan is exploring ways in which we can partner with local organizations to operate as a “water positive” facility – offsetting the building’s water use by supporting replenishment projects that directly benefit the region.

Our site selection process is deliberate. This location avoids any ecologically sensitive areas such as wetlands. Our dedication to sustainability extends to our construction practices. We prioritize initiatives like recycling construction waste, implementing energy-efficient cooling and lighting systems, and ensuring that our suppliers adhere to sustainable practices. Rowan will also be utilizing low-carbon products in the construction of the buildings – working to reduce the embodied carbon of high-impact materials like concrete, steel, and rigid insulation. 

While some impacts will be typical to any new construction, Rowan will install stormwater, erosion, and sediment control protection Best Management Practices (BMPs) prior to major site development activities in accordance with city, county and state requirements.  

Rowan anticipates breaking ground on this site in late 2025 or early 2026. Prior to this groundbreaking, Rowan will be applying to annex into the city of Temple and will need to submit related rezoning applications. We hope to have full zoning and permitting approvals later in 2025.

While we’re working closely with the Temple Economic Development Council and leadership at Bell County, it is the City of Temple that has the final say on our applications.

Rowan partners exclusively with hyperscale companies, identified closer to when construction on the facility will begin. We will ensure our customer for this project shares our commitment to the Temple community and will work to provide opportunities for stakeholders to meet them. 

Rowan intends to be a long-term member of the Temple community and would welcome additional opportunities to build in the region. Our pipeline includes several potential projects in Texas, as well as throughout the country.

If you want to get in touch with the project team, please email Tim Alborg at talborg@rowan.digital.