In an era of rapid urbanization, inhabiting new cities is the need of the hour. All over the world, new cities are being developed on different models reflecting the vision of capitalists for the future. In this regard, Elon Musk is also engaged in transforming the operating area of the SpaceX company on the southern tip of Texas to a city called Starbase. Although the initiative seems progressive on the surface, it raises critical questions about corporate urbanism and environmental sustainability. 

Corporate Urbanism 

On Saturday, in a local election, the residents of the southern region of Texas voted on incorporating a piece of land as the new municipality. In this election, 212 voters favored, while six opposed the accession of the land by SpaceX.  

Although the numbers reflect fair play by SpaceX in acquiring the land, however, the overwhelming support underlines a deeper imbalance. The majority of the voters were SpaceX employees, effectively turning the process into a corporate-controlled referendum and highlighting the troubling trend of corporate urbanism. 

In 2012, SpaceX started building infrastructure, including residential colonies and roads, for the company in the vicinity of Southern Texas.  The sparse local residents complained about the environmental disruption created by the urbanization campaign, but it went unheard. In the latest election, the majority of voters favored the land acquisition by SpaceX, but it does not translate to the concerns of Indigenous people. 

Environmental Sustainability 

Ever since SpaceX expanded its venture in Texas, environmentalists have censured the corporation for creating environmental hazards in the area. In 2024, the company was fined around $150,000 by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for raising water pollution in the region by dumping wastewater. SpaceX declared this fine a ‘disagreement over paper’. 

Now, SpaceX is ready to initiate a new city, Starbase, with its first mayor, Bobby Peden, a SpaceX vice president. The company will get more power over regulations, thus hampering environmental sustainability. 

In a nutshell, the announcement of Musk that SpaceX’s operating area in Texas is going to become a real city is a progressive move, it also highlights the pressing issue of corporate urbanism and environmental disruption. The residents and environmentalists are raising these concerns that need to be addressed before the city turns into a Musk colony.