SpaceX seeks tax break on $24 billion Texas project; 2 of 3 city commissioners work for it

SpaceX is asking the city of Starbase, Texas, for a property tax break on a proposed $24 billion data center and power plant. Two of the three city commissioners who are scheduled to consider the request are current SpaceX employees, according to the city's own records ¹.

The city's hearing notice describes the project as a "gas-fired power plant and super-compute facility." SpaceX expects to invest about $24 billion in the first stages, and the notice says the project could grow later ¹. The site covers about 444 acres inside Starbase city limits ¹².

On tapeKENS 5: Your San Antonio News Source · Nov 11

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Who sits on the commission

Mayor Robert "Bobby" Peden is SpaceX's Vice President of Texas Test and Launch, according to his official city biography. He joined the company in 2013 and moved to Starbase in December 2023 ¹.

Commissioner Jordan Buss is SpaceX's Senior Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety, the city lists. He was elected to the first Starbase city government in May 2025 ¹. The third member, Lois Wallace, does not work for SpaceX. Her biography says she works remotely on clinical trials for a pharmaceutical company ¹.

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What is being asked, and what is not known

The commissioners will consider two agreements. One is a property tax abatement under Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. The other is an economic development agreement under Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code ¹.

The public notice does not state the value or length of the tax break ¹. It also does not say what SpaceX would promise in return ². Neither agreement has been approved ².

On tapeKVUE · Nov 10

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The hearing is set for 7 p.m. on December 9 in Starbase. Members of the public may attend and speak ¹. The notice was posted November 6 ².

Background

The request follows a 2014 tax abatement agreement between Cameron County and SpaceX. That deal was meant to encourage the company to set up operations in the county ¹. By 2024, the county said SpaceX had invested more than $3 billion at Starbase and employed or contracted more than 3,400 people there. SpaceX supplied those figures to the county ¹.

A separate air-permit filing described an initial plan of 35 gas turbines totaling about 748 megawatts. Those are not final designs ².

That matters because of who is deciding. When a majority of a three-member panel works for the applicant, the public has little reason to expect an independent review. The coverage does not say whether Peden or Buss plan to step aside from the vote, and it does not include comment from either of them. Whether they recuse themselves is the question to watch before December 9.

Neither report includes comment from SpaceX, Peden, Buss or any elected Democrat. Newsweek said its reporters and editors used an AI assistant to produce its story ¹.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 2014Cameron County and SpaceX signed a tax abatement agreement to encourage the company to set up operations in the county ¹.
2. May 1, 2025Jordan Buss was elected to Starbase's first city government ¹.
3. Nov 6, 2026Starbase posted the public notice of the Chapter 312 and Chapter 380 hearing ².
4. Dec 9, 2026The Starbase City Commission is scheduled to consider the agreements at 7 p.m. ¹.

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<h2>SpaceX seeks tax break on $24 billion Texas project; 2 of 3 city commissioners work for it</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Investigations Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/spacex-seeks-tax-break-on-24-billion-texas-project-2-of-3-city-commissioners-work">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.</em></p> <p>SpaceX is asking the city of Starbase, Texas, for a property tax break on a proposed $24 billion data center and power plant. Two of the three city commissioners who are scheduled to consider the request are current SpaceX employees, according to the city&#39;s own records .</p> <p>The city&#39;s hearing notice describes the project as a &quot;gas-fired power plant and super-compute facility.&quot; SpaceX expects to invest about $24 billion in the first stages, and the notice says the project could grow later . The site covers about 444 acres inside Starbase city limits .</p> <h2>Who sits on the commission</h2> <p>Mayor Robert &quot;Bobby&quot; Peden is SpaceX&#39;s Vice President of Texas Test and Launch, according to his official city biography. He joined the company in 2013 and moved to Starbase in December 2023 .</p> <p>Commissioner Jordan Buss is SpaceX&#39;s Senior Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety, the city lists. He was elected to the first Starbase city government in May 2025 . The third member, Lois Wallace, does not work for SpaceX. Her biography says she works remotely on clinical trials for a pharmaceutical company .</p> <h2>What is being asked, and what is not known</h2> <p>The commissioners will consider two agreements. One is a property tax abatement under Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. The other is an economic development agreement under Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code .</p> <p>The public notice does not state the value or length of the tax break . It also does not say what SpaceX would promise in return . Neither agreement has been approved .</p> <p>The hearing is set for 7 p.m. on December 9 in Starbase. Members of the public may attend and speak . The notice was posted November 6 .</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>The request follows a 2014 tax abatement agreement between Cameron County and SpaceX. That deal was meant to encourage the company to set up operations in the county . By 2024, the county said SpaceX had invested more than $3 billion at Starbase and employed or contracted more than 3,400 people there. SpaceX supplied those figures to the county .</p> <p>A separate air-permit filing described an initial plan of 35 gas turbines totaling about 748 megawatts. Those are not final designs .</p> <p>That matters because of who is deciding. When a majority of a three-member panel works for the applicant, the public has little reason to expect an independent review. The coverage does not say whether Peden or Buss plan to step aside from the vote, and it does not include comment from either of them. Whether they recuse themselves is the question to watch before December 9.</p> <p>Neither report includes comment from SpaceX, Peden, Buss or any elected Democrat. Newsweek said its reporters and editors used an AI assistant to produce its story .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/spacex-seeks-tax-break-on-24-billion-texas-project-2-of-3-city-commissioners-work">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/spacex-seeks-tax-break-on-24-billion-texas-project-2-of-3-city-commissioners-work.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “SpaceX Seeks Tax Break From Texas City, Led By SpaceX Executives” (2026-11-11). newsweek.com/spacex-seeks-tax-break-from-texas-city-led-by-s
2. Construction Review Online, “SpaceX Seeks Tax Break for $24 Billion Starbase Gas Plant and Supercomputer” (2026-11-09). constructionreviewonline.com/spacex-seeks-tax-break-for-24-b

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