Ian Juarez EDINBURG – A new oil refinery is in the works at the Port of Brownsville, marking the first major refinery coming to the Gulf of Mexico since 1976.
John Calce, founder and chairman of America First Refinery, the company manning the project, said the refinery has been in the works since the Obama Administration in 2014.
“We recognized that the U.S. was making a lot of very light crude oil, and we did not have the capacity in the U.S. to refine it,” Calce said. “And we believe that there is a long-term need in demand for affordable fuels.”
According to Calce, Brownsville was chosen for its unique location as a deep-water port while being in close proximity to Monterrey, which Calce said is a big-oil importer.
Calce said the refinery will create about 37,000 direct and indirect jobs that aren’t just “turning wrenches.”
“We require engineers. We’ll require highly skilled, workforce. And we’re going to pay them very well because they’re doing high quality, high paying jobs that will then translate into additional, impact in the community,” Calce said. “We are looking forward to hiring a lot of great people from the Rio Grande Valley and being great partners, both business wise and in the environment for a very long time.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, compared to March of 2025, gas prices have increased by over 50 cents per gallon as of April 7, 2026.
With gas prices rising, Gautam Hazarika, Department of Economics chair, said that the refinery will be an asset in the United States economic standing.
“We do too much importing of gasoline. But, this is going to maybe increase our exports of gasoline. Other countries,” Hazarika said. “Yes, building refineries might, take the edge off here or there, but the primary impact on gas prices is the world price of oil.”
According to the Federal Register, on March 31st, the Endangered Species Committee voted unanimously to exempt the Gulf of Mexico from quote “oil and gas activities from the requirements of the Endangered Species Act,” which serves to protect the endangered plant and animal life in their habitats however, Calce said the project has been through exhaustive examinations.
“We do not have any endangered species in our location,” Calce said. “And, we comply with all federal and state laws and regulations relating to wildlife and environmental controls.”
If they remain on schedule, Calce said the refinery should be operational by 2029.
