Venture socialism: Did the Obama administration bet big on "Green" right at the top of the market?

Solar-Panel Firms' Outlook Dims, May Remain Darker - WSJ.com

Solar-panel company stocks have plunged to multiyear lows as slowing demand and a glut of panels from Asia have squeezed margins, creating a cloud that could hang over the industry for some time.

Shares of U.S. solar-panel giant First Solar Inc. (FSLR) have been trading at four-year lows, while shares of Chinese rival Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (STP) have reached all-time lows since the company went public in 2005. The Standard & Poor's Global Clean Energy Index, which includes First Solar, Iberdrola S.A. (IBE.MC) and other renewable energy companies, was down 41% year-to-date as of Monday. That compares to the broader S&P 500 index, which was down 11.3% during the same period.
...
"This is a real mess, I don't know how else to put it," said Jack Robinson, managing director at Winslow Management Co.'s Winslow Green Growth Fund (WGGFX).

'Solar-coaster' hits as sun sets on federal subsidies – USATODAY.com

The booming U.S. solar industry faces a potential tipping point — what some call a "solar-coaster" — as the sun starts to set on billions in federal subsidies.
...
Solyndra's collapse does not portend doom but rather reflects "the industry's success in lowering costs," says Jonathan Bass of SolarCity, a solar installer.