October 18, 2026 · Brownsville · Permits

State records list SpaceX's planned "Boca Chica Facility" on the 444 acres as power generation, with a concrete plant to build it

SpaceX has a state air permit pending for a site it calls the Boca Chica Facility, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality lists that site under "Electric Power Generation." On the same parcel, SpaceX applied in September for a temporary concrete plant whose job, the application says, "will be to provide concrete to the new construction of the Boca Chica Facility." TCEQ's map point for that plant falls inside the 444 acres Brownsville released, by our plot of the deeds.

• The power site: TCEQ's registry lists the Boca Chica Facility (regulated entity RN112524897) with a pending Air New Source registration, number 185303, for Space Exploration Technologies Corp. since Sept. 8, 2026. Industry: "Electric Power Generation." TCEQ's permit search shows it as a new application with no documents posted yet, so the size and type of equipment are not public.
• Where it is: the registry puts it on a parcel "north of Hwy 4 with access road located less than a quarter mile southwest of the intersection of Yolanda Del Rio Rd and Hwy 4," word for word the location on the concrete plant filing. The permit's own directions run north up South Port Connector Road to RL Ostos Road, by the north end of the same land. The Elon Chron newsletter noted the filing and its location by the 444 acres on Oct. 16.
• The concrete plant: registration 185397L001 is for a temporary batch plant making up to 200 cubic yards of concrete an hour, up to 1,800 hours a year, listed for 180 days on site and run by a diesel engine. TCEQ emailed notice of the application on Sept. 21 to state Sen. Adam Hinojosa, state Rep. Janie Lopez, Mayor John Cowen Jr. and County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr.
• More new SpaceX sites near the Port: since August, SpaceX has taken out state stormwater permits for a "South Port Facility" on the same Highway 4 parcel (Aug. 11), a "Port Weld-Fab Shop" at 3210 Dry Dock Ct. (Sept. 8), a "Port Industrial Park" at RL Ostos and Coffee roads (Sept. 17) and a "North Port Meter Station" on the north side of Highway 48 by the ship channel (Sept. 18).

What the power is for: SpaceX hasn't said. TCEQ's registry lists a second industry code for the site: "Computer Processing and Data Preparation and Processing Services." The RGV Business Journal reported on Oct. 14 that job postings point to a data center at Starbase, without naming a parcel. The 444 acres are now inside Starbase's city limits, outside Brownsville's planned data center pause.

Why it matters here: these are the first state filings we've found that name a use for the 444 acres. We'll post the power application when TCEQ publishes it. Our deeds story and map. Our Oct. 15 story on the data center pause.

This morning: Boca Chica Beach is open, and the city of Starbase lists no road delays or public notices.

Sources: TCEQ Central Registry via data.texas.gov, RN112524897 (Boca Chica Facility, AIRNSR 185303, pending) · TCEQ Central Registry, RN112524897 industry codes · TCEQ air permit project 414660 (received Sept. 8, 2026, pending) · TCEQ Permit Search, registrations 185303 and 185397L001 (read Oct. 18) · TCEQ map point for 185397L001, from its Sept. 21 notice · TCEQ Central Registry, SpaceX sites in Cameron County · RGV Business Journal, Oct. 14 · Elon Chron, Oct. 16 · Cameron County Clerk, document 2026-34223 · City of Starbase, beach and road access (read Oct. 18) · Aerial: USDA NAIP via USGS The National Map (public domain)

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