Gilbert Salinas Finds SpaceX Opposition Unexpected, Unwarranted

Brownsville Herald reporter Laura M. Martinez describes the posture of Gilbert Salinas in this way:    

"Gilbert Salinas, executive director of the Brownsville Economic Development Council, said he had anticipated some opposition to the project early on, but not after the public hearing took place on May 15."

Now, one might consider stated opposition or at least questioning of the proposed rocket launch site as a bit tardy if construction had been started, 600 local residents had been hired for good-paying jobs or an Environmental Impact Study had been completed and analyzed, but NONE of that has happened yet.  Actually, now is the VERY time to question the project, or at least its proposed location, not ten years down the line after we realize we again been boondoggled by the historically inept BEDC and done irreparable harm to our most precious ecological feature, Boca Chica beach.

In a genius move, SpaceX owner Elon Musk threw our community a giant psychological curve ball by stating publicly that greatly factoring in his decision to locate his launch station among three sites, Puerto Rico, south Florida and Cameron County, would be how receptive the individual communities were to his overtures.  That deftly shifted the microscope from peering at the merits of the project to seeing how high we could jump for it.

Our economically desperate community, emotions whipped up somewhat by social media,  became a huge pom pom squad for SpaceX.  The May 15 meeting at ITEC was not so much a public hearing as it was a pep rally for the project.  The mayor and city commission in attendance wore SpaceX insignias on their blazers without a deal having been struck.  How's that for negotiation skill?   It was as if Oprah Winfrey had landed her helicopter in Market Square and given the city the keys to a brand new rocket launch pad.

But Elon Musk is not Oprah Winfrey and there's no certainty his project will be self-funded.  His electric car company, Fisker, certainly wasn't, with $465,000,000 in loan guarantees coming from the U.S. taxpayer.  We can't assume billionaire Musk will pay his own way anymore than billionaire Jerry Jones paid for his own new Cowboy Stadium.  He will likely work the three sites he says remain in contention against each other to see who gives him the best deal.

But, back to the environmental considerations.  We're not fooled by Mayor Tony Martinez's statement that he's "done his due diligence."  Do you actually think Tony has completed his personal environmental impact study?  I don't either.  Nor am I particularly reassured by the words of BEDC's Gilbert Salinas:  "The wildlife has done just fine.  If anything, it has flourished because nothing else is built for miles before you get to the launch site."


Luke Metzger of Environment Texas states: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wrote that noise, heat, vibration, fencing and hazarduous material spills' from the project could harm endangered and threatened species and diminish the value of Boca Chica State Park and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge."


There is also the fear that a launch site would pose a threat to the local eco-tourism industry.  A 2011 Texas A&M study reported:




"Nature tourism generates about $300 million a year in the Rio Grande Valley, creates 4,407 full or part-time jobs and $2.6 million in sales taxes and $7.26 million in hotel taxes. The Rio Grande Valley has been named the number two destination in North America for birdwatching and attracts visitors from all over the world to view almost 500 species of bird. The petition calls on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to find suitable land for the project elsewhere."



Obviously, there's a lot at stake here, economically and ecologically.  It may be too soon to support or oppose the SpaceX project, until all of the facts are in.