After initial optimism that Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident would give a big boost to renewable energy, the solar industry finds itself looking at a decidedly mixed forecast. On one hand, oil company Total SA has bought a controlling interest in SunPower Corp., the second-largest U.S. solar panel maker, fueling hopes that other big oil companies may be interested in injecting cash in the industry. On the other, Italy, which last year installed 14 percent of global new solar capacity, recently became the latest country to slash its solar subsidies, delivering another blow to the industry as falling solar panel prices and weak demand have led several manufacturers to downgrade their sales and profit forecasts for the year. Go to story #1

Microsoft founder, famous billionaire and clean energy supporter Bill Gates yesterday downplayed the notion that China is overtaking the United States in renewable energy at a breakfast meeting about climate change in Seattle. "A lot of figures that are thrown about China are sort of these bogeyman, 'We should feel bad'-type things," he said. "But China is very important. China can be a part of the solution here." Go to story #2