OptiSolar Snapshot
OptiSolar wants to take solar energy from alternative to mainstream. The company manufactures silicon thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that help reduce the cost of producing clean power. To complement its manufacturing operations the company had a number of solar plants in the planning stage. However, the tough economic times forced OptiSolar in 2009 to lay off more than half of its staff and to sell its entire portfolio of planned but unbuilt solar power plants to First Solar for $400 million. As a result, OptiSolar will stick to its knitting -- manufacturing solar panels. The company was founded in 2005 and is privately held.