Houston’s Oldest Refinery Is Shutting. It Won’t be the Last.

After more than a century of churning out fuel on the banks of the Houston Ship Channel, the city’s oldest refinery is preparing to shut down, potentially putting hundreds of people out of work. Its competitors are welcoming its demise.

The closure of the plant — built by industrialist Harry Sinclair in 1918 and now owned by petrochemicals giant LyondellBasell Industries NV — reflects the struggles of a sector that’s declining along with demand for its central product.

Gasoline consumption in the US peaked five years ago, according to federal data, and the transition to cleaner energy is eroding demand ...