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First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) beat Q209 earnings yesterday and the stock shot up in after hours trading cresting at around 190. But as the earnings conference call started and CEO Michael Ahearn and CFO Jens Meyerhoff spoke, the stock tumbled quickly.

What made folks nervous?

Cautious optimism? While Ahearn and Meyerhoff did not change guidance for the next quarter, they both spoke of challenges in balance of the year, which on the face of it was prudent and transparent. I like that about these guys; they are practical and forthcoming.

Yesterday's call, however, struck me as more dour than usual. And judging by the reactions, others seemed to agree.

The biggest concern moving forward appears to be the rather defensive position FSLR execs are taking in Germany, as polysilicon prices continue to fall making crystalline silicon (c-Si) module prices competitive with FSLR's cadmium telluride (CdTe) modules in Germany.

While this will affect their margins for some time to come, I'm still confident this company has real value, strong leadership, and a great product.

Analysts this morning have been all over the map, from CreditSuisse's downgrade to $135 (from $200) to Wedbush Morgan's upgrade price of $195 from $175. And it's been a bouncing ball all morning after opening at $155.

For me, I don't think the sun has set on First Solar just yet.

(Disclosure: I hold a long position in FSLR. This post is for informational purposes only and is neither intended to be investment advice nor an offer, or the solicitation of any offer, to buy or sell any securities.)

July 31st's Tip

Back to School: Continuing from yesterday's guest post from Terra Wellington, we ... [visit site to read more]

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A Planet Green Celebration Of The Blue Oceans Planet Green celebrates the world’s oceans, seas, and waterways with it’s month long Blue August programming. Information you need to stay up to date with the issues and get involved with important projects that are cleaning up our precious water resources. Hosting Blue August are the prominent conservationists and [...]

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Frequent Television Contributor and Actress Terra Wellington (www.terrawellington.com) is the author of The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home.

For parents who are at their wits end with finding things for their ... [visit site to read more]

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I carry reusable shopping bags everywhere. I use them for all my shopping trips, no matter what type of errand I need to run. My issue with the ones the grocery stores sell are that they are supremely unattractive. I’m sorry to say that sometimes my vanity rears its head and does not want me to be seen browsing through the accessories section of a clothing store carrying a day-glo green bag with a giant piece of fruit on it or the name of the grocery chain emblazoned across it in giant letters. I also don’t necessarily want my clothing and beauty items to be carried in the same bags that carry my groceries, even though I am fairly good about keeping my reusable bags washed between uses.

The answer to both the aesthetic and functional issues is the EnviroVogue eco-friendly and stylish reusable tote bag (http://www.envirovogue.com/). EnviroVogue has a wide range of patterns, including my favorite, the Snow Leopard. I mean, what can compliment just about any outfit better than a pop of leopard print? And at $8.95 a piece, you can certainly afford to go stylishly green. Currently the site is offering a deal where if you purchase two or more you get a free tote. The totes have cross-stitched handles and reinforced seams for durability and can carry more than forty pounds. Their woven polypropylene design makes them water resistant and easier to clean than traditional grocery store reusables, which are non-woven. The bottom insert is built into the bags, making them sturdy when filled.

EnviroVogue’s sole purpose is not just to provide attractive reusable bags, although that in and of itself is a great addition to the green living cause. The company donates a portion of each purchase to a charity, including Childhaven, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Feeding America, and Maasai Association. The charity that receives the donation depends on which tote you order (for example, part of the proceeds from my Snow Leopard tote goes to support the education of Maasai children). The company also offers their product for fundraisers, so if your school or workplace needs a fresh, fashionable idea for its next fundraiser, make sure you check out this site. I for one would be thrilled to support a local business or school if they offered a fun, different, and very usable product in return for my support.

My EnviroVogue bag goes everywhere with me, and on almost every shopping trip I get the opportunity to spread the word about the company’s products and their charitable contributions. The EnviroVogue tote is definitely a product you can feel great about using because it not only looks fabulous and supports various charities, it is also eco-friendly.

Science Daily reports today on a landmark study of threats to biodiversity and species extinctions across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

"Published in the international journal Conservation Biology, the report is the first comprehensive review of more than 24,000 scientific publications related to conservation in the Oceanic region. Compiled by a team of 14 scientists, it reveals a sorry and worsening picture of habitat destruction and species loss. It also describes the deficiencies of and opportunities for governmental action to lessen this mounting regional and global problem."

According to the study,

* Loss and degradation of habitat is the largest single threat to land species, including 80 percent of threatened species.
* More than 1,200 bird species have become extinct in the Pacific islands and archipelagos.
* In Australia agriculture has modified or destroyed about 50 percent of woodland and forest ecosystems, and about 70 percent of remaining forests are ecologically degraded from logging.
* Invasive species, particularly vertebrates and vascular plants, have devastated terrestrial species of the Pacific Islands and caused 75 percent of all terrestrial vertebrate extinctions on oceanic islands.
* More than 2,500 invasive plants have colonized New Zealand and Australia – representing about 11 percent of native plant species.
* Many invasive weeds, vertebrate pests, and fishes were introduced by government, agriculturalists, horticulturalists and hunters.

Read more @ Science Daily:

Additional information can be found at: University of New South Wales

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• Humans 'driving Earth's extinction' (guardian.co.uk)
• Extinction crisis looms in Oceania: Landmark study (scienceblog.com)
• Australia and the Pacific 'becoming extinction hotspots' (telegraph.co.uk)

Cork harvesting has been a way of life in Mediterranean Europe for at least 1000 years. The ancient cork forests stretch along the southern Mediterranean coast from Italy to Portugal with individual cork trees living up to 600 years. Cork harvesting is one of the planet's best examples of a sustainable ... [visit site to read more]

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Scottie, Shields Up! Advantage Window Systems, Inc. became the owner of IN’FLECOR Control Systems in April of 1999 and moved the company from Canada to Aledo, Texas, just west of Fort Worth, Texas. They now are manufacturing the world’s first magnetic reversible solar panel that could heat in the winter, keep your home cooler in the [...]

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I first started blogging in March of 2008.  I’ll admit I’m not very techie, but at that time I was determined that blogging was going to be my retirement career.  All I knew is I wanted to write. The rest I hoped would just take care of itself.  I had written some good posts, and [...]

Now that we are into the midsummer mowing season, I figured it is a good time to repost this critical blog entry from last spring on OakleighVermont.com.

This may sound unbelievable, but according to the <a ... [visit site to read more]

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Welcome to the July 27th, 2009 edition of All Things Eco.

Be sure to Stumble the posts you like, or submit them to other social bookmarking services. Let's promote each other, as well as this blog carnival.

We returned ... [visit site to read more]

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Greener, Stronger, Cooler, and Night Brighter Tyler is the first city in the State of Texas to use a new type of overlay called E-Krete for roads, shoulders and runways. Created, manufactured and distributed by Mississippi based PolyCon Manufacturing, city engineers say it will cut costs and improve overall quality of streets. E-Krete is an [...]

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The Dow Chemical Company has a trademark on the name Styrofoam. It is also known as polystyrene, or EPS (expanded polystyrene).  On the recycling symbol it is #6.   Made of about 98% air and and 2% plastic, it is a terrible problem in the waste stream.  The problem is about 30% of this “puffystuff” still [...]

The giveaway for the Pangea Organics facial scrub and facial cream from Beautorium has closed, and I have randomly selected a winner!

Callie (comment #159) is our winner! Congrats!

As usual, I will be emailing the winner right after I post this and will allow 48 hours for a response with the address to have the prize shipped to. No response within 48 hours will mean a new winner will be randomly ... [visit site to read more]

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How many remote controls do you have? 4 or 6 or maybe 8? How many times have you grabbed a remote control for the TV and got the DVD one? That means you have to supply batteries to all of those remotes. Unless you have a re-charger, those batteries that are dead go [...]

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July 24th's Tip

Keeping your pets as organic/natural as you are: Today's tips are from Angie @TofuFairy. Everyone with Twitter follow ... [visit site to read more]

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EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) and First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced a venture to build France’s largest solar panel manufacturing plant. With an initial annual capacity of more than 100MWp, the plant will produce solar panels made with First Solar’s advanced, thin-film photovoltaic technology.

According to a press release today, First Solar will build and operate the plant in France, representing an expected investment of more than €90 million. The initial annualized capacity of the plant is expected to exceed 100MWp, according to FSLR, making it the largest manufacturing facility for solar panels in France.

EDF Energies Nouvelles has agreed to finance half of the capital expense and plant start-up costs and will benefit from the plant’s entire output for the first 10 years. First Solar and EDF EN intend to announce their decision on the site location within the next few months.

First Solar’s manufacturing site will also include a facility for recycling solar panels, France’s first such facility and Europe’s only solar panel recycling plant outside of Germany.

For more information see: First Solar

(Disclosure: Long FSLR)

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• E.ON and EDF have drawn the battle lines between renewables and nuclear (guardian.co.uk)
• First Solar (slideshare.net)

You may remember the video on how to recycle a t-shirt into a bikini, so today I thought I'd share with you a video on how to recycle a towel into a pair of shorts. Sound weird? Maybe a little, but lots of stores sell those terry cloth shorts, and these would be similar to those. Great for a bikini cover up or to lounge in this summer.

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" ... [visit site to read more]

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Toyota is placing solar powered plant sculptures around US cities that generate electricity and provide free WiFi.

http://www.physorg.com/news167321476.html#

Tired of hearing about hydrogen cars yet? No? - Good - cause here’s another one for you! A team of 40 students at Sakarya University, Turkey, have built an astounding hydrogen car. All 40 are members of the Advanced Technologies Implementation Group (SAITEM) at the university, comprised mostly of students who do the technical and mechanical work. [...]

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