And a chemical industry that has been expanding rapidly because of cheap natural gas from shale fields could be slowed, or even stalled. PhotoSuch a chain of events is for the moment pure speculation since it will take weeks to fully assess the storm damage. The port of Houston is closed until at least the end of the week, a major hit to both energy imports and exports. Texans and others in the region have depended on the industry for their livelihoods for generations. The damage underscores how the companies often held responsible for contributing to global warming could increasingly suffer from its effects.

Source: New York Times August 29, 2017 22:34 UTC