McALLEN, Texas (AP) — In an ambitious move, SpaceX is proposing to transform its Starbase site into a city in Texas.
On Thursday, billionaire Elon Musk’s aerospace company submitted a formal letter to local leaders seeking to hold an election for the incorporation of the area known as Starbase. This site, located at Boca Chica Beach in South Texas, is where SpaceX develops and launches its enormous Starship rockets. According to the company, residents of Starbase previously filed a petition supporting this initiative.
Earlier this year, Musk revealed plans to relocate the headquarters of SpaceX and his social media platform X from California to Texas, highlighting the area’s strategic importance for future growth.
Kathryn Lueders, General Manager of Starbase, expressed in her letter to Cameron County officials the necessity of developing Starbase into a community to support the rapidly growing workforce essential for the Starship program. “We are requesting that Cameron County call an election to enable the incorporation of Starbase as the newest city in the Rio Grande Valley,” she stated.
This is not the first discussion surrounding the idea of Starbase achieving city status. In 2021, Musk briefly shared his vision on social media, announcing, “Creating the city of Starbase, Texas.” However, it was only this week that an official petition was formally filed.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the primary elected official of the county, noted that this marks the first official petition for incorporation, despite earlier conversations about the concept. “Our legal and elections administration will review the petition to ensure it meets all statutory requirements before proceeding,” Treviño explained.
The Starbase site currently employs over 3,400 full-time SpaceX staff and contractors, as highlighted in a local impact study released by Treviño earlier this year.
Nevertheless, SpaceX’s rapid growth in the region has faced opposition from some local residents. Earlier this year, a group known as Save RGV filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming environmental violations and the improper disposal of polluted water into nearby waters. SpaceX responded by stating a state review found no environmental hazards and labeled the lawsuit as “frivolous.”
