• Residents overwhelmingly voted to incorporate Elon Musk's SpaceX site as Starbase, Texas.
• 173 out of 177 votes were in favor, with most voters being SpaceX employees.
• Environmental concerns have been raised regarding the impact of SpaceX's operations on the local region.
• Bobby Peden, a SpaceX vice president, was elected the first mayor of Starbase.
• The incorporation grants Starbase significant local governance powers, including zoning and permitting.

Elon Musk's vision of turning the SpaceX launch site in Texas into an official city took a significant step forward as local voters approved the incorporation of Starbase with overwhelming support. Preliminary results showed that 173 of 177 votes favored the establishment of Starbase, confirming its status as a new municipality, according to reports by The New York Times, CBS News, and Al Jazeera.

The voter base consisted predominantly of SpaceX employees living in the region, totaling nearly 500 residents, as much of the land is owned by SpaceX or its workforce. The move allows Starbase to control local governance issues such as building permits, taxation, and regulatory frameworks, facilitating further development at the site, reports BBC, Newsweek, and HuffPost.

The newly elected mayor, Bobby Peden, serves in a leadership role at SpaceX and was the only candidate on the ballot. His election, along with two SpaceX-affiliated city commissioners, underscores the close-knit relationship between the city’s governance and the rocket company, which has sparked discussions about corporate influence over local affairs, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

Despite the enthusiastic results, not everyone is optimistic about the new municipal status. Environmental activists, including Bekah Hinojosa of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, have voiced concerns over potential ecological impacts, warning of increased pollution and habitat destruction due to expanded operations. Past findings by the Environmental Protection Agency have highlighted SpaceX’s responsibilities for pollution incidents, adding to the critique of the company’s environmental record, as reported by Dawn, Los Angeles Times, and Independent.