YMCA renews its plan to build on the Greenway

The YMCA of Greater Boston has hired CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares Inc. of Boston to design the facility it plans for a North End block of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. The YMCA unveiled plans in 2003 to build a large recreation and community center based on designs by CBT. But costs skyrocketed to an estimated $69 million in 2005, and the Y pulled out. Last year, the organization recommitted itself to developing the location with a more modest facility. The block is near the MBTA's Haymarket Station. (Thomas C. Palmer Jr.)

A nonprofit corporation that provides power to municipal electric utilities said it will pay $4 million to acquire the assets of a wind power project in Berkshire County. Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. agreed with Berkshire Wind Power LLC to purchase easements, permits, and other assets related to the development of the 15-megawatt wind farm in Hancock and Lanesborough. The wholesale electric company said it could complete the project by 2010, depending on availability of wind turbines and other factors. Berkshire Wind is a subsidiary of Distributed Generation Systems Inc., or Disgen, of Lakewood, Colo. Disgen has spent about 10 years and $6 million on developing the project. The sale is expected to close in May. (Robert Gavin)

Yahoo Inc. has signed deals with Canton companies Dunkin' Donuts and Reebok International Ltd. Yahoo will be the exclusive online distributor of "Framed," which is broadcast on the Independent Film Channel and features Reebok athletes being interviewed by film and music celebrities who are directing the 30-minute episodes, a Reebok spokeswoman said. The TV series, launched last year, is produced by a new entertainment arm of Reebok. Coffee chain Dunkin' Donuts will sponsor two new daily video segments on Yahoo's websites offering an online recap - one for news and the other for sports highlights. The Dunkin' videos will be launched this month, a spokesman said. (Jenn Abelson)

Evergreen Solar Inc., a Marlborough maker of solar power products, filed a registration statement for an offering of 20 million shares of stock. Evergreen will receive net proceeds of about $231.9 million, or $266.8 million if underwriters exercise an option for an additional 3 million shares. The company will use the funds to finish a manufacturing facility in the Devens area and for other purposes. (AP)

The New York Times Co.'s third-largest shareholder, Massachusetts Financial Services, sold most of its stock in the company in the fourth quarter, according to a regulatory filing. Massachusetts Financial owned 1.1 million shares as of Dec. 31, the Boston-based group said in a regulatory filing. It held 8.42 million shares as of Sept. 30, according to Bloomberg data. Times Co. owns The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM, and more than 50 websites. (Bloomberg)

To cope with rising jet fuel prices, United Airlines will begin assessing a $25 fee on passengers who bought the cheapest tickets when they check a second piece of luggage, the carrier said. Starting yesterday, customers who buy nonrefundable domestic economy tickets and who don't have "premier" or "silver" frequent-flyer status in the Mileage Plus or Star Alliance programs, respectively, will have to pay the fee for travel on or after May 5 within the United States or to or from Canada, San Juan, and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. United estimates it will generate more than $100 million annually from the fee and by introducing other checked-luggage changes, including charging all passengers $100, up from $50, for an overweight bag. The airline said 25 percent of fliers check a second bag, and the policy change will keep airfares competitive. (Nicole C. Wong)

Sun-Times Media Group Inc., parent company of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, said it's considering a sale of the company and its assets. The company said its board of directors is also looking at other alternatives to increase shareholder value, including joint ventures or strategic partnerships. The struggling company also owns dozens of smaller Chicago-area papers. Key shareholders have pushed for its sale to boost a lagging stock price. (AP)