Long viewed by some as an opponent of efforts to curb global warming, the giant oil company in recent months has made a few key hires and some telling investments that appear to move it toward the middle on environmental issues. Most notably, last week the White Plains, N.Y., company hired Jefferson Seabright, the White House's No. 2 man on the global-warming issue.
Some environmentalists view the move as a positive sign.
Big energy companies, auto makers and utilities are increasingly wrestling with global-warming issues as they strive to respond to growing public concern and react to changing environmental regulations. However, the U.S. industry, led by Exxon Mobil Corp., generally has insisted that the global-warming theory is unproven, and that efforts to curb carbon output will do more economic harm than environmental good. Texaco has taken steps to position itself as a greener oil company. Announces plans to sharply increase spending on cleaner, synthetic natural gas. Resigns from the controversial Global Climate Coalition.