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OngoingImprovingRisk Index — Q1 2026
Temple / Bell County — Texas
Temple, Bell County, Texas
70/100
LOW RISK
Trajectory: Multiple unanimous council approvals, Rowan 300MW construction underway, Meta $800M investment, 269-acre rezoning advancing through P&Z.
Last updated 2026-03-29
Community risk review · approving-market signal
Temple / Bell County — Texas's score is backed by the record of participants driving it.
RealClear computes a Community Impact Score (0–100) for every named participant in this jurisdiction's entitlement record. Approving markets typically carry pro-development CIS leaders at the top of the record — elected executives, planning staff, and economic-development bodies with consistent posture across multiple projects. Open the cross-referenced case files below for the full per-actor weight breakdown.
Investment Thesis
Temple demonstrates an improving trajectory with multiple unanimous approvals, active construction, and $800M Meta investment. Rezoning is required but consistently approved. Only market with "Improving" trajectory.
Temple is the only market in the entire index with an Improving trajectory. Every data center vote has been unanimous. Rowan's 300 MW project is under construction on 700 acres. Meta invested $800 million. A separate 269-acre rezoning is advancing through the planning commission. Oncor is building new transmission infrastructure. And Texas counties legally cannot impose moratoriums. Temple is not merely approving data centers — it is building an economy around them.
Only market with an Improving trajectory. Multiple unanimous council approvals (5-0). Rowan 300 MW construction underway. Meta $800M invested. 269-acre rezoning advancing.
Temple UDC defines "Data Center (Large)" explicitly — one of the few municipal codes that formally categorizes the use. Rezoning from AG to PD-LI is required but consistently approved.
Texas counties legally cannot impose development moratoriums (HB-2559). This structural advantage protects Temple from the county-level moratorium wave affecting Indiana, Ohio, and Minnesota.
Oncor partnership: Bell County East Switch operational, 765 kV transmission line filed, $36B capital plan (2025-2029). Water service agreement approved by council.
A public opposition group, "Stop Temple Data Centers," exists (Sarah Royer). 13 speakers opposed a utility service agreement. The opposition exists but has achieved zero blocking outcomes.
Dimension Breakdown
How this market scores across four dimensions.
Regulatory Risk
30 pts
Rezoning from AG to PD-LI required for every DC project but consistently approved unanimously (5-0 votes). UDC defines "Data Center (Large)" explicitly. Texas counties cannot impose moratoriums.
Score: 20/30. Rezoning from AG to PD-LI required for every project but consistently approved unanimously (5-0). UDC defines the use explicitly. Texas prohibits county moratoriums.
Infrastructure Readiness
25 pts
Oncor partnership with existing Bell County East Switch. New 765 kV transmission line filed. Oncor $36B capital plan (2025-2029). Temple approved water service agreement for DC development.
Score: 19/25. Oncor is the dedicated utility partner with Bell County East Switch, new 765 kV transmission, and $36B capital plan. Water service agreement approved. Oncor interconnection queue has 600+ requests statewide — the queue is the constraint.
Opposition Density
25 pts
A public opposition group, Stop Temple Data Centers, exists. 13 speakers opposed a utility service agreement. Concerns focus on water, noise, electricity, property values. No blocking outcomes.
Score: 17/25. Facebook opposition group exists. 13 speakers opposed a utility service agreement. Concerns about water, noise, electricity, property values. But no blocking outcomes — every vote has passed unanimously.
Approval Timeline
20 pts
Efficient rezoning process. Rowan: announced September 2025, first reading 5-0, construction underway January 2026, operations expected 2027. Separate 269-acre rezoning advancing through P&Z.
Score: 14/20. Rowan: announced September 2025, first reading 5-0, construction underway January 2026, operations expected 2027. Efficient but rezoning still required for each project, preventing a higher score.
Key Findings
What the evidence supports.
Temple UDC defines "Data Center (Large)" as 10,000+ SF facilities for digital processing, transfer, and storage.
Temple UDC Section 5.1Temple Council voted 5-0 to approve annexation of 706 acres and rezoning for Rowan DC on first reading.
CitizenPortalMeta invested $800M in hyperscale DC through Polmer LLC on 393 acres.
City of Temple news releaseRowan construction underway on 300MW project spanning 700 acres — largest Texas project.
Rowan press releaseIncentives & Programs
Why developers are choosing here.
Known Risks
No market is risk-free. Here's what to watch.
The credibility of a favorable score depends on honest risk disclosure. These risks are documented in public records.
Rezoning from AG to PD-LI required for every project
Facebook opposition group exists but has not achieved blocking outcomes
13 speakers opposed utility service agreement at one meeting
Oncor interconnection queue has 600+ requests (state level)
Recommendation
LOW RISK — Score 70/100
Standard process expected. Temple is the only market showing an Improving trajectory, with multiple unanimous approvals and active construction.
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About This Index
Published Q1 2026RealClear gives real estate development teams cited entitlement research before they commit serious diligence spend. This index scores U.S. markets across four dimensions of data-center entitlement risk: regulatory complexity, infrastructure readiness, community opposition density, and approval timeline. It is market-level triage, not a parcel score. Submit a specific parcel and you get a 24-hour cited brief whose claims trace to primary sources.
Read the full methodology20Markets Scored
15Index States
249+Source-Backed Claims
Ready to screen a property candidate? RealClear returns a 24-hour cited brief covering zoning posture, approval path, community posture, comparable outcomes, open questions, and next questions for counsel, civil, utility, or the local team.