GE, Solar Power, and the Market

I am often accused of juxtaposing two facts that have no bearing on each other.

Here I go again (10:00 a.m. EST, April 7, 2011).

The market is up (barely). Oil is up (barely). Bakken-based oil companies are starting to turn green.

Ten minutes ago CNBC reported that GE has announced it will build the world's largest solar power plant in the United States, location yet to be disclosed.

One minute ago, CNBC's crawler listed the Dow laggards in early trading. Three companies were listed: one was GE.

With regard to the GE solar plant, this is the story.

• $600 million-facility to make solar panels
• The company is still deciding on the location for the new facility
• First Solar will take a hit 

From the Wall Street Journal, April 8, 2011:

"We're looking to make solar look like [GE's wind business] over the next five years," said Victor Abate, vice president of the company's renewable-energy division.

Broke (without heavy subsidies and/or govt mandates).

I couldn't resist.