Company News: Utilities, Lululemon, Starbucks, Samsung, Suntech

Pressure is mounting on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ahead of an April 13 deadline for the agency to issue the first greenhouse gas limits for power plants. Green groups oppose scaling back or delaying the rule, which spurred a record 2.67 million public comments, most of them supportive. Utilities and coal producers say that if the agency issues a single standard for both gas- and coal-powered plants, when only gas plants could reasonably comply, the rule could be challenged in court. The curbs will apply only to new plants, though coal producers and utilities are bracing for the EPA to target existing facilities next.

Retailer Lululemon Athletica recalled a batch of black yoga pants because the fabric was too revealing. It unknowingly sold the defective Luon pants, which retail for $98, for about 10 days before the sheerness issue came up during a weekly call with store managers on March 11. The line makes up about 17 percent of Lululemon’s women’s pants sales in stores. The stock is down more than 16 percent this year, partly on quality-control issues.