Elon Musk's SpaceX has proposed incorporating its Starbase facility in Texas into its own city amid criticism from environmentalists.

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

U.S.

Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX headquarters into new Texas city

Dec 13, 2024

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is seeking to transform its industrial complex in southern Texas into a city. This week, the space exploration company submitted a letter to Cameron County officials, requesting an election to incorporate its Starbase facility.

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Located near the U.S.-Mexico border, Starbase serves as the primary testing and production site for SpaceX rockets.

Musk first proposed the concept in 2021 via a social media post. In the letter, the company pointed to a petition for incorporation submitted by local residents.

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“To continue growing the workforce necessary to rapidly develop and manufacture Starship, we need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” Kathryn Lueders, general manager of Starbase, said of the move. “That is why we are requesting that Cameron County call an election to enable the incorporation of Starbase as the newest city in the Rio Grande Valley.”

While the idea of turning Starbase into a city isn’t new, it’s the first time SpaceX filed an official petition.

The company has made a significant economic impact in the area. A local impact study showed more than 3,400 full-time employees and contractors currently work at the site.

However, the SpaceX’s operations in the region faced criticism. Earlier this year, a lawsuit accused the company of environmental violations, including dumping polluted water into a nearby bay.

SpaceX responded that a state review found no environmental risks and dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous.”

Tags: Elon Musk, SpaceX, Texas

[JACK AYLMER]

ELON MUSK WANTS TO CREATE A NEW CITY.

STARBASE IS AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND ROCKET LAUNCH FACILITY THAT SERVES AS THE MAIN TESTING AND PRODUCTION LOCATION FOR SPACEX.

LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN TIP OF TEXAS NEAR MEXICO-

THE SPACE EXPLORATION COMPANY CHAIRED BY MUSK IS NOW LOOKING TO TURN ITS HEADQUARTERS INTO A CITY.

THIS WEEK, SPACEX SUBMITTED A LETTER TO OFFICIALS IN CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS, REQUESTING AN ELECTION TO INCORPORATE STARBASE.

IN THE LETTER, THE COMPANY POINTED TO A PETITION FOR INCORPORATION THAT IT SAID WAS SUBMITTED BY RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.

STARBASE’S GENERAL MANAGER SAID THE GOAL OF THIS MOVE IS TO GROW THE COMPANY’S WORKFORCE-

WHICH WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF ITS SPACESHIPS.

THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME THIS IDEA HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP-

BACK IN 2021, MUSK FLOATED THE CONCEPT IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST.

BUT NO OFFICIAL PETITION WAS FILED THEN.

SPACEX’S PRESENCE IN THE REGION HAS ALREADY BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT.

ACCORDING TO A LOCAL IMPACT STUDY, MORE THAN 3,400 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS CURRENTLY WORK AT THE SITE.

HOWEVER, THE COMPANY’S OPERATIONS HERE HAVE ALSO INCURRED CRITICISM.

IN A LAWSUIT EARLIER THIS YEAR, SPACEX WAS ACCUSED OF ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS AND DUMPING POLLUTED WATER INTO A NEARBY BAY.

ALTHOUGH, THE COMPANY SAID IN RESPONSE THAT A STATE REVIEW FOUND NO ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS AND CALLED THE LAWSUIT QUOTE “FRIVOLOUS.”

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER-

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Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX headquarters into new Texas city

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