A Texas county has approved an election sought by SpaceX to create a new city called Starbase, located near Elon Musk’s company. Scheduled for May 3, only residents living near the launch site can vote on the incorporation of the new city. The move comes after more than 70 residents signed a petition requesting the election, with the majority being company employees. If approved, Starbase would be the newest town in Cameron County since 1995. SpaceX’s general manager, Kathryn Lueders, has mentioned that incorporation would streamline processes for building amenities in the area. However, some environmental advocates have expressed concerns about the effects of development in the area.
The proposed new city includes land owned by SpaceX with over 3,400 full-time employees working at the Starbase site. Elon Musk has been expanding his business ventures in Texas, with Tesla’s Gigafactory opening near Austin in 2022. Musk moved to Texas in 2020, citing the state’s business-friendly climate as a reason for the relocation of some of his companies.
SpaceX did not immediately comment on the approval of the election. Once formed, Starbase would be the latest addition to Musk’s growing presence in Texas, with potential implications for both economic development and environmental impact in the area.
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