Much of the nation’s refinery capacity and chemical production has been concentrated along the swamps and narrow inlets of the Gulf of Mexico, risking ! potential devastation from this monster storm Harvey.
The pounding being endured by coastal Texas will probably be the biggest test of that risk so far, and energy experts say it raises questions about the area’s role as a hub for such crucial and environmentally sensitive industries.
The Texas and Louisiana coasts took on their vital role because they link vast oil and gas resources, both inland and offshore, with Caribbean and Atlantic shipping channels. But the damage from Harvey, which arrived with hurricane force, has exposed a major downside: vulnerability to storms that experts say are becoming more extreme because of climate change.
The full implications are potentially even larger. The environmental fallout could worsen, and if oil and natural gas prices spike [that’s a given at this point] because refineries and pipelines are crippled, renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, along with electric cars, could get a major lift.
The United States could be forced to import more gasoline and other refined products [Comrade Putin would love to hear such a scenario develop in the coming days, weeks and months].
And, a chemical industry that has been expanding rapidly because of cheap natural gas from shale fields could be slowed, or even stalled.
Such a chain of events is for the moment pure speculation since it will take weeks to fully assess the storm damage. But, the damage will undoubtedly be extensive.
God forbid any large-scale environmental spill over the coming days…
Lobster on the Prairie 