**Elon Musk's SpaceX Facility Transforms into Official City of Starbase**

Starbase, now a municipality, faces environmental scrutiny as SpaceX expands its operations while consolidating control.

In a significant development for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the facility located in southern Texas has officially transformed into the municipality of Starbase. Following a local election this past Saturday, residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of the incorporation, with 212 votes supporting the measure and only six in opposition. Most of the 283 eligible voters are employees of SpaceX, highlighting the impact of the company on the area.

Musk celebrated the news on his social media platform X, proclaiming, “Starbase, Texas is now a real city!” The newly-formed city spans approximately 1.6 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) and had been sparsely inhabited prior to SpaceX's expansion into the region starting in 2012.

Government structures for the city will consist of a mayor and two commissioners, who will oversee local planning, taxation, and other municipal decisions. Bobby Peden, a vice-president at SpaceX, will serve as the first mayor, running unopposed, as did the two other individuals with connections to SpaceX filling the commissioner roles.

Starbase is classified as a Type C city, which allows for a property tax levy of up to 1.5%. A bill currently navigating through the Texas state legislature may grant city officials the power to manage local highway access and close Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park during SpaceX activities. Although SpaceX manages its launches independently, these changes could lead to conflicts with Cameron County officials, particularly regarding access to the beach, as SpaceX is looking to ramp up its launch frequency from five to 25 per year.

Cameron County’s top official, Judge Eddie Trevino Jr., has voiced his opposition to the bill, questioning the implications of localized control by Starbase.

In recent years, Musk has shifted much of his business to Texas, citing favorable regulations and a political climate more aligned with his views. SpaceX's corporate headquarters is now located near Bastrop, approximately a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Starbase.

The creation of Starbase comes amidst growing concerns from environmental activists, who argue that SpaceX’s activities have had adverse effects on the local environment, including wildlife disruption, light pollution, and litter from rocket launches. In 2024, SpaceX was fined nearly $150,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for improper wastewater management. The company described the fine as stemming from bureaucratic misunderstandings, asserting compliance with environmental standards.

As Starbase establishes itself, the dynamics between corporate interests and local governance will be closely watched, especially as SpaceX seeks to expand its operations in this new city landscape.