The May 2, 2026, election for the Port of Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners is approaching. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network, a local Brownsville organization, has asked the Port candidates to complete our candidate questionnaire. With the development of Rio Grande LNG, Texas LNG, SpaceX buildout, the recently announced America First Refinery, and Saronic Technologies, these projects raise urgent questions about our community’s ethics, water security, public health, and long-term resilience. We will publicize on our website if we receive responses from the Port candidates.
The decisions made by Port Commissioners are felt for so much longer than a four-year term; they’re felt for generations. These decisions shape our landscape and impact our water, air, and health. We look forward to learning how the Port candidates plan to address these ethical and environmental concerns.
PORT OF BROWNSVILLE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
- As an elected official with power over major development decisions that affect our community’s health and environment, transparency and accountability are essential to fostering public trust.
- Question: What specific measures will you advocate for to ensure that there is full transparency in the Port of Brownsville’s operations, such as responding to public records requests and public access to site lease agreements and negotiations with corporations?
- Our region is currently facing a severe water crisis, with Amistad and Falcon reservoirs at dangerously low levels (30.8% and 19.6% respectively), forcing residents to adhere to water conservation measures.
- Question: Given the increasing industrial water use demand for the current industries at the Port, what steps would you take as part of the Port Commission to ensure sustainable water management that prioritizes water availability for families to meet their basic needs?
- Desalination is frequently proposed as a solution to water shortages, but it is energy-intensive and produces toxic brine that has been known to damage coastal ecosystems and the fishing and shrimping industry.
- Question: What is your stance on desalination as a water source for industries at the Port of Brownsville?
- Large, multi-billion-dollar corporations are proposed for the Port of Brownsville, including LNG export terminals, Saronic Technologies, America First Refinery, a lithium refinery, and the proposed expansion of SpaceX.
- Question: What is your stance on these proposed refineries, fossil fuel industries, military manufacturing, and private space corporation projects at the Port of Brownsville? Please elaborate.
- Climate change is an existential threat to us all, but it is primarily low-income communities like the Rio Grande Valley that are forced to deal with extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding, and extreme drought.
- Question: What steps would you take as Port Commissioner to address climate change?
- The Port of Brownsville oversees thousands of acres of pristine wildlife habitat, which is essential for endangered and threatened species, and contains well-documented Indigenous artifact sites. Garcia Pasture is one of the sites listed on the National Park Service’s website, is considered the premier historic site of Cameron County by local archeologists, and is of importance to the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribal Nation.
- Question: What is your plan to ensure the Port preserves historic archaeological sites of cultural importance to Indigenous people and our community?
- Question: What is your plan to preserve wildlife habitat and greenfield land at the Port of Brownsville?
- Several fossil fuel industries have plans to build and operate at the Port of Brownsville, including the Rio Grande LNG terminal, Texas LNG terminal, and the America First Refinery, which would release pollution into the community and therefore poses serious risks to people and the environment. Additionally, other industries, such as a proposed lithium refinery and Saraonic Technologies’ plans to build and manufacture warships at the Port, would also pose risks. Some communities, including the City of Olympia, WA, have passed policies that address human and environmental risks, e.g., Ethical Investment Statement on page 11.
- Question: Would you support the Port of Brownsville adopting an Ethical Investment Policy for Human Rights that ensures industries do not contribute to violations of our rights?
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