September 30, 2026 · Local economy · Series, part 1

Four projects, about $41 billion: Cameron County lists the developments reshaping the region

Cameron County's economic development office this week posted its list of the four largest economic development projects shaping the county. By its estimates they add up to about $41.1 billion (our sum of its four figures). Three are at the Port of Brownsville. One is Starbase.

• Rio Grande LNG by NextDecade, Port of Brownsville: $31.8 billion. The county calls the natural gas export terminal, on about 1,000 acres, one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Texas history.
• SpaceX Starbase, Boca Chica: $3.5 billion in capital investment, which the county says carries $13.5 billion in economic impact. It says a 700,000-square-foot manufacturing plant is slated for completion around late 2026.
• Port Alpha by Saronic Technologies, Port of Brownsville: $3 billion. The county describes an autonomous naval shipyard for unmanned surface vessels, expected to break ground by the end of 2026, that aims to create up to 10,000 direct jobs.
• Texas LNG, Port of Brownsville: $2.8 billion, a second natural gas export facility on 625 acres, which the county ties to regional upgrades like the $16 million Port Connector Road.

Update, Oct. 1: Saronic broke ground on Port Alpha at the Port of Brownsville on Wednesday, Sept. 30, with Vice President JD Vance and Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor's office puts the investment at $3.248 billion.

The county pairs the list with road and bridge upgrades, which it says will bring faster trade routes, safer commutes and job growth. Its map marks projects including the I-69 Connector, the Outer Parkway, a second access to South Padre Island, SH 4 and the East Loop.

What's next: these are the county's estimates. One early flag: Texas LNG's own January announcement lined up $5.7 billion in debt financing alone, well above the county's $2.8 billion. Starting tomorrow we will take each project in turn and check the numbers against the companies' own filings and announcements, beginning with Rio Grande LNG, then Port Alpha, Texas LNG and Starbase.

Sources: Cameron County Economic Development on Facebook, Sept. 28 (graphic and road map) · Cameron County Economic Development · Texas LNG financing announcement, Jan. 30 · KVEO, Port Alpha groundbreaking, Sept. 30 · KRGV, Sept. 30 · Office of the Texas Governor, Saronic announcement

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