Economy & Business

"Many old factories around the country now sit dark and empty. But at a once-defunct Polaroid film factory in New Bedford, Mass., the lights are on again and a new industry is rising up inside the ruins of an old one."

"A federal jury on Friday awarded more than $100 million to 10 workers who claimed they were injured in 2007 when a toxic substance was released at BP’s Texas City plant."

"In Yonkers last week, Mayor Philip A. Amicone announced he would veto new legislation requiring that developers of residential and commercial buildings hew to 'green' construction practices -- not because he opposes sustainable development, the mayor said, but because of legal, technical and political issues."

"Exxon Mobil, the world’s largest publicly traded oil and gas producer, said Monday that it had agreed to buy XTO in an all-stock deal valued at $31 billion, the biggest oil and gas deal in four years."

"Recycling centers across California are closing, and scores of troubled youths are being tossed from 'green' jobs onto unemployment rolls in the wake of Sacramento's raid on bottle deposit funds."

Monsanto's use of market dominance in genetically modified seeds to crush competion and coerce farmers into paying higher prices has drawn complaints. After years of looking the other way, antitrust enforcers are thinking about acting.

"Last year, an estimated 17 billion catalogs were sent to U.S. households. ... Now, a growing chorus of environmental groups is sounding the alarm.... Some are seeking a national 'Do Not Mail' registry, modeled on the 'Do Not Call' list."

"Despite the worst U.S. recession in decades, sales of organic and sustainable products have continued to grow, experts say, with shoppers willing to spend a few more dollars in a bid to become more green."

When the Delaware City Refinery complex opened in 1957, the petrochemical trade press hailed it with superlatives. It was the largest single refinery project ever built, and became a hub for an industry that sprawled into Pennsylvania and New Jersey. "Today, most of Delaware City's chemical plants have closed, the result of tougher economic conditions and environmental laws."