Grimes County clears the way for SpaceX’s Terafab — one of the largest industrial projects in U.S...

Kind: captions Language: en to that other big story that's got attention coming in from around the world. Grimes County Commissioners have cleared the way for SpaceX to build a multi-billion dollar semiconductor chip manufacturing facility here in the Brazos Valley. Grimes County Commissioners voted today to make it happen, but not all are happy about it. Dylan Crist Watkins begins our team coverage. >> It's a project that could bring billions of dollars to this rural county's economy, but if you ask most of the Grimes County residents who showed up today, they'd say they don't want any part of it. More than 60 people spoke during today's public hearings, and most of them were against the proposed SpaceX semiconductor facility slated for the Gibbons Creek Reservoir and surrounding areas. But four of five commissioners voted to move forward anyway, approving both the massive tax break and the new reinvestment zone. >> The problem with it, it's 100% tax abatement, but we initiated and we negotiated a pilot payment in lieu of taxes. So, when people say, "Oh, you gave away the farm 100%." No, we didn't. At the end of the day, we're going to collect $700 million out of this project. Will it take us 35 years? Yes, it will. But we've got up-front money from them to work on infrastructure, make salary adjustments to add personnel if needed. >> The lone no vote, Precinct 2 Commissioner David Tullis, wasn't necessarily against the project itself. His concern was the speed and what he called a troubling lack of transparency from SpaceX throughout the process. >> Part of why I chose today to articulate my particular position about the proposal before the court because I agree with what my constituents say. We moved a little bit too fast. >> The residents who came out against this project told me they aren't done fighting. They're now regrouping and looking at what legislation gives them the power to challenge decisions made by county governments. As for the county, now that both votes have passed, Judge Fautt says work on the project could begin before the end of this year. For now, in studio, Dylan Crewswakis, KBTX News.