Resident warns council that proposed Grimes County SpaceX complex could strain College Station water and services

Robert Rose, a Crescent Point neighborhood resident, told the College Station City Council on June 11 that a proposed SpaceX facility in nearby Grimes County could have major knock-on effects for the city.

"The water application for this facility calls for using up to 511 million gallons per day of water for cooling," Rose said during the visitors period. He contrasted that figure with College Station’s current pumping of about 25 million gallons a day and warned the project could bring tens of thousands of construction workers to the region.

Rose framed the effect as a potential subsidy by College Station residents: ‘‘I think unfortunately, unless we have some mitigation, our expenses here, the everyday people in College Station are going to bear the brunt essentially subsidize what's happening in Grimes County,’’ he said.

Why it matters: Rose said the scale of the development—he cited a figure of roughly 100 million square feet—would put unusual pressure on local roads, public services and housing, and he urged council members to pursue support from state and federal agencies to offset those impacts.

What the council heard: Council members did not take action during the visitors period but recorded Rose’s request for staff follow-up. The mayor said staff would refer the comments to the appropriate departments for further investigation.

Next steps: Rose’s remarks were submitted during the meeting’s public comment period; staff will review the concerns and return any findings or recommended next steps to council as appropriate.