Houston has to deal with the lack of demand for energy as it reels from shutdown requirements

NY Times:

For Houston, a One-Two Punch: ‘It’s Going to Be Devastating’

The self-proclaimed energy capital of the world has been reeling from oil-market chaos on top of a coronavirus shutdown.
The lack of demand should be a short-term problem that will right itself as the US and the world goes back to work.  I suspect the demand will be approaching normal in a matter of months.  In fact, demand could come back even more robustly because people could be avoiding mass transit which was a significant factor in spreading the disease in some cities.  The damage done to commerce and jobs from the shutdown based on flawed models may take longer to repair.

The city should be easing the restrictions at the same time they continue to have requirements for masks and social distancing.  While there is some mass transit in Houston, the city is not as dependent on it as New York and other metropolitan areas.  Commuting in cars and trucks is a safer alternative to mass transit at this time.  It is a ready-made social distancing.

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