Chemical Industry Weekly News Round-Up, Feb. 4

This Week on CW:

Dow Chemical's earnings more than doubled on higher selling prices and a 22% rise in volumes.

BASF is planning to increase R&D spending again this year.

After a decade in Chapter 11, a U.S. bankruptcy court has approved W.R. Grace's plan of reorganization.

Two U.S. senators have introduced separate bills aimed at delaying, or blocking entirely, EPA's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Around the Web:

A blogger in the Atlantic considers the future of the U.S. middle class in the midst of a sluggish economy and job market.

Joe Manchin, the man behind this ad, has been named to the U.S. Senate committee with jurisdiction over energy policy, Bloomberg reports.

A common gas drilling method is likely in violation of federal law, in The New York Times.