Elon Musk's plan to transform Starbase into a new Texas city sparks outrage
- SpaceX has formally requested an election to incorporate Starbase as a city in Texas.
- This proposal follows Elon Musk's earlier suggestion in 2021 and addresses the need for community growth to support its workforce.
- Local officials will review the submitted petition, marking a significant step in SpaceX's expansion efforts in the region.
In late 2024, SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, initiated efforts to transform its Starbase site into an incorporated city in Texas. This location at Boca Chica Beach, near the Mexican border, has hosted significant developments for SpaceX, including the construction and launching of the Starship rockets. The request to local officials from SpaceX included a petition submitted by local residents, which aims to facilitate the growth of a community to support the company’s workforce needs. This formal approach follows Musk's previous suggestion in 2021, which created public dialogue around the concept of Starbase functioning as a city. The incorporation petition highlights SpaceX’s commitment to expanding its operations and workforce in the area. Currently, over 3,400 full-time employees and contractors work at the Starbase facility, catering to the intense demands of innovation in aerospace technology. Kathryn Lueders, the general manager of Starbase, underscored the necessity of developing a supportive community around SpaceX for manufacturing and developing Starship more effectively. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. announced that the local legal and elections administration would review the eligibility of the petition. Treviño’s statement indicated that while the idea had been discussed previously, this marked the first time a formal request had been filed. The efforts by SpaceX aim to alleviate any logistical and administrative hurdles pertaining to their operations, making a potential city status essential in fostering continuous growth. However, SpaceX’s expansion has not been without controversy. Local environmental groups, specifically a coalition named Save RGV, have raised concerns regarding environmental impacts, alleging violations related to pollution of the nearby bay. Responding to these claims, SpaceX reported that state reviews found no significant environmental dangers and dismissed the lawsuit as unfounded. This contention between SpaceX's rapid expansion and community concerns reflects broader challenges faced by corporations operating in sensitive ecological zones.