SpaceX announced plans Tuesday to construct its largest launch facility to date in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, with an investment of up to $100 billion. The proposed site, named Starbase Louisiana, will occupy approximately 125,000 acres of former Exxon Mobil property near Pecan Island. This development marks a significant expansion of SpaceX's Starship launch operations, aiming to establish a high-cadence spaceport capable of supporting thousands of launches per year. Construction is slated to commence in 2027, with the company targeting the first launch for 2029.
The facility is designed to be a self-sustaining spaceport, incorporating multiple launch complexes, propellant production capabilities, power generation, and vehicle processing infrastructure. Plans include five launch complexes, each equipped with two launch pads, totaling ten launch pads across the site. SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell stated that the Louisiana site is intended to support an unprecedented scale of spaceflight, driven by the increasing demand for Starship launches for satellite constellations, AI data centers, and lunar and Martian missions. Elon Musk, SpaceX founder and CEO, projected that the mega-project could generate between 4,000 and 10,000 jobs, encompassing roles such as engineers, scientists, technicians, welders, and tube benders. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will create 3,000 direct jobs over the next decade, with an average annual salary of $92,600, and an additional 8,100 indirect jobs, totaling over 11,100 employment opportunities.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry highlighted the project's potential for economic transformation, stating, "This will be built by Louisiana hands on Louisiana soil." He contrasted SpaceX's long-term investment with historical resource extraction in the state, emphasizing the creation of "permanent future and lasting prosperity." The state has offered SpaceX a competitive incentives package, including eligibility for an aerospace sales-tax rebate and the High Impact Jobs program. Local taxing bodies have also agreed to a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) arrangement, involving an upfront payment of $20 million and annual payments of at least $25 million for 25 years, with an escalator. Louisiana estimates these direct local payments will exceed $820 million.
SpaceX cited the need for a coastal location with low population density, direct re-entry paths, and ample natural gas resources as critical factors in selecting Louisiana. The chosen site in Vermilion Parish is situated in coastal marshes, and SpaceX has stated its commitment to environmental stewardship. The company plans to partner with state and federal agencies on coastal restoration initiatives, including shoreline protection and marsh restoration, alongside the construction of its infrastructure. The property was formerly owned by Exxon Mobil and became state property as part of a settlement related to environmental lawsuits concerning coastal land loss.
This new facility will be SpaceX's fourth launch site in the United States, complementing its existing operations in Texas and Florida. While the Texas site focuses on Starship production, the Louisiana facility will primarily serve as a launch complex. The scale of Starbase Louisiana is intended to dwarf its Texas counterpart, supporting a significantly higher launch cadence. The project is contingent on obtaining necessary environmental, wetlands, natural-resource, and launch-related approvals.