SpaceX plans $100 billion Louisiana Spaceport in Vermilion Parish

Pecan Island project expected to create thousands of jobs, begin construction in 2027

SpaceX has announced plans to invest more than $100 billion in a new commercial spaceflight campus in Vermilion Parish, a project state officials say would become the company’s largest launch site in the world.

The development, planned for Pecan Island, is expected to include five launch complexes with two launch pads each, propellant production, power generation, vehicle-processing facilities and housing for employees and their families.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first launch targeted for as early as 2029. The site is intended to support SpaceX’s Starship program and could eventually become a major center for commercial spaceflight in Louisiana.

Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will create about 3,000 direct jobs over the next 10 years with an average annual salary of $92,600. Thousands of additional indirect jobs are also expected through contractors, suppliers, manufacturers and other businesses connected to the development.

Gov. Jeff Landry called the announcement “a day for the history books.”

“With SpaceX’s $100 billion investment in Louisiana, we are proving that Louisiana is open, open to new jobs, honest wages, and to those who dare to build something that lasts,” Landry said.

State Rep. Daryl Deshotel, chairman of the Louisiana House Commerce Committee, also attended the announcement and described the investment as a turning point for the state.

“This is truly an inflection point in Louisiana’s history,” Deshotel said.

Deshotel said the impact could extend well beyond the jobs directly created by SpaceX as suppliers, manufacturers, technology companies, contractors and entrepreneurs establish or expand operations around the project.

“The impact of this investment will reach far beyond the 10,000 jobs announced today,” Deshotel said. “It has the potential to create an entirely new economic ecosystem in Louisiana.”

He also credited Landry, the Louisiana Legislature and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois and her staff for their work in securing the project.

“This is a generational opportunity for our state and I believe we are only seeing the beginning of what it can become,” Deshotel said.

Louisiana businesses are expected to have opportunities to compete for contracts tied to the development. SpaceX has joined the state’s Source Louisiana program, which connects Louisiana suppliers, contractors and service providers with major development projects.

The agreement is also expected to generate significant revenue for Vermilion Parish. Under a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement, local taxing bodies are expected to receive a $20 million upfront payment and at least $25 million annually for 25 years.

SpaceX has also committed to a $25 million charitable contribution to the Community Foundation of Acadiana as part of the state incentive agreement.

Roads, utilities and infrastructure

A project of this size will require significant infrastructure work.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is evaluating transportation routes, road and bridge conditions and expected traffic impacts. Highway 82 is among the routes being studied for possible improvements.

New electrical generation and transmission infrastructure will also be needed.

State officials have said SpaceX is expected to cover the cost of new generation and infrastructure upgrades required specifically for the project.

Environmental concerns remain

Because the development is planned in coastal Vermilion Parish, environmental impacts have also become part of the discussion.

State officials say SpaceX has been working with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and other agencies regarding wetlands, wildlife, fisheries and habitat.

The company has said it intends to work with conservation organizations and experts to avoid, minimize and mitigate environmental impacts surrounding the site.

Three conservation organizations — the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation and Pontchartrain Conservancy — have separately raised concerns about proposed FAA changes that could allow some federal environmental requirements to be waived for commercial space projects.

Their concerns include potential effects on coastal wetlands, waterfowl, whooping cranes and other wildlife in the Pecan Island area.

The groups have said they are not opposing commercial space development itself, but want environmental reviews and protections maintained as projects move forward.

What happens next

Planning for the SpaceX campus will continue with transportation, utilities, permitting, environmental review and site preparation among the major issues still ahead.

SpaceX and state officials have also indicated that community meetings and additional public information will be provided as development progresses.

If the project proceeds on schedule, construction could begin in 2027, with the first Louisiana Starship launch possible as early as 2029.

For Louisiana leaders, the project is being presented as more than a single major investment.

Landry called it proof that Louisiana is open to large-scale new development, while Deshotel said the real impact may come from the network of new businesses, jobs and industries that could grow around the SpaceX project.