Taylor’s City Council unanimously approved a development agreement Thursday, Oct. 8, for a proposed 664-acre data center campus east of the city, moving forward with a project that drew sharp opposition from residents concerned about its environmental and social costs. The Taylor Technology Campus, proposed by Big Watt Digital and PowerHouse Data Centers, would be built near U.S. 79 and FM 112, just beyond Taylor’s current city limits. The vote followed a crowded public meeting, where supporters and opponents reacted audibly to the decision. A construction schedule has not been announced. The agreement sets several operating conditions. Noise would be limited to 65 decibels or the level measured before development, whichever is lower, and lighting must meet the city’s Dark Skies standards. The campus would use a closed-loop cooling system supplied with reclaimed water; the initial fill for the full site is estimated at about 1.6 million gallons. The agreement also requires on-site electricity generation, with excess power eligible to be sold back to the grid. Residents gathered outside City Hall before the meeting, with some protesting the project’s anticipated natural-gas power and others raising concerns about water. During public comment, Taylor resident Sarah Winters questioned whether promised investments would matter if the development made the area less livable. Resident Marco Solis said he did not believe the campus would benefit the community overall. Opponents said they would continue organizing after the council’s vote. The developers committed $28.2 million for community and nonprofit support. Listed allocations include $13 million for city quality-of-life improvements, $10.2 million for Taylor ISD educational programs, $1.5 million in higher-education scholarships for district students, and $1 million for the city’s animal-care program. The school district’s superintendent, Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, told council the agreement could provide lasting benefits for students. City staff estimate the campus could generate $1.38 billion in gross tax revenue over 20 years, which they say could help pay for infrastructure work, including street and sidewalk repairs, and public safety. That figure is a projection, not a guaranteed return. The developers had withdrawn an earlier annexation and zoning application the previous month before returning with a revised agreement. A city spokesperson said the companies also withdrew an application for a state wastewater-discharge permit amid Gov. Greg Abbott’s pause on data center permits; instead, the developers plan to invest in improvements to Taylor’s wastewater system. At the meeting, Big Watt representative John Stokes acknowledged that a project of this scale would raise major questions for its host community. PowerHouse representatives said the companies intended to remain in Taylor and act as community partners. Residents opposing the campus, meanwhile, said the council’s approval would not end their efforts to challenge it.