Expansion Plans of Starbase and Environmental Concerns in South Texas
On a hot August day in South Texas, Bekah Hinojosa, co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Center, cruised down Highway 4 towards Boca Chica Beach. Large trucks and shiny Cybertrucks filled the road. Construction seemed endless. Hinojosa commented, “This road is always under construction. SpaceX is rapidly colonizing and changing the entire landscape of Boca Chica.”
Starbase, a city formed in 2025, aims to expand by annexing around 7,100 acres nearby, including state and private lands. Created partially to support SpaceX’s growing workforce and rocket launch operations, Starbase plans to increase its launch capacity as approved in April 2025 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This includes up to 25 annual Starship and Super Heavy launches and landings.
Musk’s vision is clear: to establish a launch complex for missions to the moon and Mars. The SpaceX complex boasts launch pads, manufacturing, and test sites. During launches, Starbase controls access to a nearby beach and nature reserve. The city states that annexation would enhance coordination with federal and state agencies like Texas Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
“We’re on beautiful pristine land owned by a property owner who doesn’t want to become part of Starbase,” said Hinojosa. She fears the expansion’s impact on the community and environment. Activists and landowners voice similar concerns.
Barbara Buckner, a local landowner, questioned Starbase’s priorities, noting that city officials have ties to SpaceX. She worries the annexation is just the start of more expansions.
Gerold Podraza, 83, owns land in the area and opposes annexation. He said, “It just represents that the people who have money can do things they shouldn’t be allowed to do.” Podraza feels financial leverage leads to unfavorable political decisions.
In 2024, NPR reported that SpaceX violated the Clean Water Act, discharging industrial wastewater into the surrounding area. Environmental concerns like this worry Hinojosa, who documents debris post-launches.
Cameron County Commissioner, Sofia Benavides, stated that Starbase has the legal right to expand, though “there’s nothing that we can do to stop it.” Starbase awaits responses from landowners on annexation and plans public hearings before the September vote.
Hinojosa’s organization is exploring legal actions to oppose annexation. She stated, “They call it Starbase. You pull the curtain back, it’s the SpaceX annexation.” The fight continues against what they see as threats to the Rio Grande Valley.