SpaceX’s Ambitions for Starbase City

SpaceX’s busy rocket launch schedule may soon impact beachgoers in Boca Chica, Texas. If the company’s plans to turn its launch site into an official city come to fruition, SpaceX could gain full control over road and beach closures in the area.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Texas lawmakers have filed legislation that would grant SpaceX sole authority to close roads and public beaches near the Starbase launch site for rocket launches, ground testing, and other related activities during the week. This legislation is contingent upon an upcoming vote to decide whether to establish Starbase as a city. The vote, scheduled for May 3, will be decided by residents living near SpaceX’s Starbase, the majority of whom are SpaceX employees who submitted a petition in December 2024 to request an election on the matter.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk first proposed the idea of a Starbase city in 2021. In February, Cameron County in Texas approved holding an election to create a new town called Starbase, built around SpaceX’s ongoing launch endeavors. The election will be held on May 3, and votes will be cast by residents living near SpaceX’s Starbase. Most of the residents are SpaceX employees who submitted a petition in December 2024 to request an election regarding the decision to make Starbase its own municipality.

A new bill filed on March 14 would give SpaceX control over road and beach closures for its rocket activities. Although the bill, filed by two Republican senators, does not mention SpaceX by name, it refers to counties with spaceports and beach access “bordering on the Gulf of Mexico or its tidewater limits,” according to My RGV. Currently, Cameron County officials are responsible for road and beach closures, but if the bill is approved, Cameron County would maintain its authority during weekends, while Starbase, as its own jurisdiction, would have control on weekdays.

During a public hearing, State Senator Adam Hinojosa claimed the bill would not increase the frequency of beach closures but rather “streamline administrative processes while maintaining local oversight,” according to local reports. However, there is concern that SpaceX’s launch site is harming the surrounding landscape. In July 2024, conservation groups filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration, alleging that it rushed SpaceX’s Starship permitting process without adequate environmental review or mitigation requirements.

SpaceX is also facing fines of almost $150,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly dumping pollutants into a Texas waterway without a permit. The company’s frequent rocket launches are already a nuisance to the surrounding environment, and SpaceX seems intent on becoming even more prominent in the area, with plans to open a $15 million shopping center and restaurant near Starbase.

The proposed bill has sparked concerns among environmental groups and local residents, who fear that granting SpaceX control over road and beach closures could lead to increased disruptions and harm to the environment. As the vote on Starbase’s city status approaches, it remains to be seen how the legislation will impact the area and its residents.