Abbeville, La. – SpaceX confirmed Tuesday that it will construct a $100 billion self‑sustaining spaceport, dubbed Starbase Louisiana, on roughly 125,000 acres of coastal marshland in Vermilion Parish. The site, located near the small community of Pecan Island about 50 miles south‑southwest of Lafayette, is being billed as the largest capital investment in Louisiana history.
Economic impact and job creation
SpaceX chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell told a crowd of state officials, business leaders and reporters that the project will function like a small city, eventually housing between 3,000 and 10,000 residents. The company expects to create as many as 10,000 permanent jobs, with a target that 60 % of the workforce will be filled by local residents.
In addition to direct employment, SpaceX will pay local taxing authorities $25 million annually and provide a $20 million upfront payment. The company will also benefit from state tax incentives administered by the Louisiana Economic Development agency.
Facilities and self‑sufficiency
Starbase Louisiana will feature ten launch pads, fuel production facilities, a power plant, a deep‑water shipping port, employee housing and an on‑site airport. The design aims for self‑sufficiency, reducing reliance on external services for critical operations.
The launch‑site footprint will occupy about 40,000 acres of the total land, with the remainder preserved as coastal marshland between two state wildlife refuges. Shotwell assured that the project will not have a lasting negative impact on wildlife, noting that “birds may fly away during a launch, but they will return once the rocket is gone.”
Coastal restoration and hurricane protection
Governor Jeff Landry highlighted the partnership between economic development and environmental stewardship, stating, “This is the first time we can marry an economic development project that creates thousands of jobs with coastal restoration and hurricane protection.” SpaceX has pledged to fund coastal and wildlife habitat restoration in the Acadiana region and to contribute directly to Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan.
Local nonprofit leader Carrie Simon, who runs a program for abused and neglected children, expressed optimism, noting that the project could spur a “ripple effect of growth” for businesses that have struggled in the area.
Community concerns
Not everyone is enthusiastic. Libby Smith Nehrbass, a resident who owns a hunting and fishing camp on Pecan Island, displayed a protest sign reading “Paradise Lost.” She voiced worries about air, light and noise pollution and questioned the secrecy surrounding the project’s negotiations, which have been conducted under non‑disclosure agreements.
Nehrbass also referenced recent state legislation that grants the aerospace industry limited legal immunity from certain lawsuits filed by Louisiana residents, a point that has drawn criticism from some community members.
Timeline
Construction on Starbase Louisiana is slated to begin in 2027, with the first rocket launches expected in 2029. SpaceX also promised steep discounts on Starlink internet service for all Vermilion Parish residents.
The announcement adds Louisiana to the list of states hosting major SpaceX facilities, joining sites at Cape Canaveral, Florida; Lompoc, California; and near Brownsville, Texas.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
