Brownsville, TX (KRGV) — Environmental advocates protested outside the Cameron County Courthouse on Tuesday and urged county leaders to oppose a proposed $24 billion SpaceX data center and natural gas power plant near Brownsville.

The South Texas Environmental Justice Network said it is worried about possible air pollution and water use from the project. The proposed development would be built on land near Brownsville that now falls within Starbase city limits.

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“We’re out here to make it clear that we oppose the SpaceX data center and gas plants. We urge Cameron County commissioners to oppose the SpaceX data center. It would pollute the Rio Grande Valley, and it would use a tremendous amount of water,” South Texas Environmental Justice Network Co-founder Bekah Hinojosa said.

A Monday public notice said SpaceX is seeking a property tax break for the project.

Brownsville de-annexed the 444.45-acre property earlier this year at SpaceX’s request. The company offered $220 million for city water and wastewater projects.

Channel 5 News reached out to the Cameron County judge's office and SpaceX officials for comment, but they did not respond as of Tuesday evening.

Starbase city commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing in December on tax breaks for the project.