Linde is building a $100M air separation plant in Brownsville, TX, to supply liquid oxygen and nitrogen directly to SpaceX’s nearby Starbase.
The facility’s location, less than 50 miles from Starbase, will cut delivery times, lower costs, and create 90 to 100 permanent jobs paying above the county average with $1.3M in workforce training support.
The project strengthens Brownsville’s position as a hub for aerospace and advanced manufacturing amid strong local construction growth despite national cost and labor challenges.
In a move that helps position Brownsville, Texas, at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing, Linde announced it broke ground on a $100 million air separation plant. The modern facility will supply liquid oxygen and nitrogen, essential for rocket launches, directly to SpaceX’s Starbase facility, significantly boosting the city’s economic and industrial future.
With over 60 years of support for the space industry, including NASA’s Apollo program, Linde’s expertise is well established. In 2024 alone, Linde gases powered more than 100 rocket launches. The company also supplies rare gases for satellites and supports new technologies like 3D-printed rocket parts.
Linde’s decision to invest in Brownsville is a testament to the city’s growing prominence in the aerospace sector. Located at 7245 Industrial Circle in the North Brownsville Industrial Park, the new plant anchors a 9-acre lot within a 72-acre park to attract large-scale industry.
Investment: $100 million
Opening: Scheduled for early 2026
Jobs Created: About 90 to 100 local positions
Partners: Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC)
Purpose: Supplying SpaceX’s high-volume need for liquid oxygen and nitrogen
Linde says the new facility will create 90 to 100 permanent jobs that pay more than the average for Cameron County. In addition, the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation has approved a $1.3 million training plan.
Already home to SpaceX’s Starbase, Brownsville is quickly becoming a hub for manufacturing, suppliers, and skilled jobs. Linde chose the city for several strategic reasons: the new plant is less than 50 miles from Starbase, much closer than the previous supply source, which was over 500 miles away. This proximity means faster deliveries, lower costs, and quicker responses to SpaceX’s growing launch schedule.
“I appreciate their significant investment in our community, which will create well-paying jobs for our residents. Great things are happening in Brownsville!” said Mayor John Cowen Jr., noting that Linde’s arrival brings both prestige and high-quality job opportunities to the area.
Brownsville’s growth as a manufacturing hub fits with a bigger trend in the South. Even though construction is slowing in other parts of the country, Southern commercial construction is holding steady, driven by infrastructure, office, and logistics projects.
The plant’s presence is expected to attract even more high-tech and advanced manufacturing to Texas. The project is set to be operational by early 2026.
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