Residents vote to create Starbase, Texas, marking a new chapter in local governance and SpaceX's presence.
**Starbase: Elon Musk's Vision Takes Shape in Texas**
**Starbase: Elon Musk's Vision Takes Shape in Texas**
A former patch of land is transformed into a city under SpaceX's influence.
The southern tip of Texas has made headlines as Elon Musk's SpaceX has officially founded a new city named Starbase, following a decisive vote from local residents. In an election held on Saturday, out of 283 eligible voters, a remarkable 212 cast their ballots in favor of the city’s incorporation, while only six opposed it. Musk celebrated this milestone on his social media platform, X, by proclaiming, "Starbase, Texas is now a real city!"
Occupying an area of approximately 1.6 square miles (3.9 square kilometers), Starbase was characterized as a sparsely populated locale until SpaceX began acquiring land there in 2012. The newly formed city will have a governing body made up of a mayor and two commissioners who will oversee municipal affairs like planning and taxation. However, the incorporation has drawn criticism from some local residents who allege that SpaceX's operations have detrimental effects on the environment.
With the establishment of Starbase, infrastructure developments have burgeoned, including corporate housing for workers, leading to an estimated population of around 500 inhabitants in the vicinity. The push to create a city has been brewing for years, catalyzed by a petition submitted in December 2024, which culminated in the recent election.
The inaugural mayor of Starbase will be Bobby Peden, a SpaceX vice-president, who ran unopposed for the position alongside two other SpaceX-affiliated candidates for commissioner. Designated as a Type C city, Starbase is categorized as a small municipality with fewer than 5,000 residents, granting it specific powers such as levying a property tax of up to 1.5%.
A related piece of legislation in the Texas state assembly may provide the city officials with control over local highway closures and access restrictions to Boca Chica Beach during rocket launches—an existing arrangement currently managed by Cameron County. This could spark disputes between Starbase authorities and county officials, particularly as SpaceX aims to ramp up annual launches from five to as many as 25.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has criticized the proposed bill that would grant Starbase greater authority over launch-related access. As Musk has transitioned many of his business operations from California to Texas—citing favorable regulations and political issues—his headquarters have shifted to the outskirts of Bastrop, a small city located approximately a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Starbase.
While rapid developments continue in and around Starbase, environmentalists have raised alarms regarding SpaceX's impact on the region's ecology, claiming increased light pollution and litter from extensive rocket launches. Notably, in 2024, SpaceX faced nearly $150,000 in fines from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for wastewater disposal violations. The company has defended its practices, attributing the fines to "disagreements over paperwork."
As Starbase continues to develop, the interplay between local governance, corporate interests, and environmental stewardship remains a crucial narrative unfolding in Texas.
Occupying an area of approximately 1.6 square miles (3.9 square kilometers), Starbase was characterized as a sparsely populated locale until SpaceX began acquiring land there in 2012. The newly formed city will have a governing body made up of a mayor and two commissioners who will oversee municipal affairs like planning and taxation. However, the incorporation has drawn criticism from some local residents who allege that SpaceX's operations have detrimental effects on the environment.
With the establishment of Starbase, infrastructure developments have burgeoned, including corporate housing for workers, leading to an estimated population of around 500 inhabitants in the vicinity. The push to create a city has been brewing for years, catalyzed by a petition submitted in December 2024, which culminated in the recent election.
The inaugural mayor of Starbase will be Bobby Peden, a SpaceX vice-president, who ran unopposed for the position alongside two other SpaceX-affiliated candidates for commissioner. Designated as a Type C city, Starbase is categorized as a small municipality with fewer than 5,000 residents, granting it specific powers such as levying a property tax of up to 1.5%.
A related piece of legislation in the Texas state assembly may provide the city officials with control over local highway closures and access restrictions to Boca Chica Beach during rocket launches—an existing arrangement currently managed by Cameron County. This could spark disputes between Starbase authorities and county officials, particularly as SpaceX aims to ramp up annual launches from five to as many as 25.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has criticized the proposed bill that would grant Starbase greater authority over launch-related access. As Musk has transitioned many of his business operations from California to Texas—citing favorable regulations and political issues—his headquarters have shifted to the outskirts of Bastrop, a small city located approximately a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Starbase.
While rapid developments continue in and around Starbase, environmentalists have raised alarms regarding SpaceX's impact on the region's ecology, claiming increased light pollution and litter from extensive rocket launches. Notably, in 2024, SpaceX faced nearly $150,000 in fines from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for wastewater disposal violations. The company has defended its practices, attributing the fines to "disagreements over paperwork."
As Starbase continues to develop, the interplay between local governance, corporate interests, and environmental stewardship remains a crucial narrative unfolding in Texas.
