The service area of Xcel Energy (XEL:  NYSE) stretches across the upper plains states of Minnesota, South and North Dakota, running into Colorado and stretching south to New Mexico and Texas.  Power interests in Wisconsin and Michigan extend the electric utility’s footprint across the northern most section of the country.  Xcel delivers electricity or natural gas to over 5.1 million customers across the eight states.

"France, Italy, Belgium and Spain will impose new bans on short-selling or short positions beginning Friday, the European Securities and Marketing Authority said in a statement late Thursday. The measures come to "restrict the benefits that can be achieved from spreading false rumors" given the recent volatility in European markets in recent weeks, ESMA said. The French ban will prevent creating a short position or increasing any net-short position in French banks such as BNP Paribas FR:BNP +0.31% , Societe Generale FR:GLE +3.70% and Credit Agricole FR:ACA +5.14%"

Companies that are in part dependent on government subsidies are always at risk taking a hit.  Solar stocks are in the penalty box in part because of reduced subsidies.  In addition a surplus of supply is putting pressure on prices.  Which is great for end users but is making for difficult times for producers.  The longer term picture for solar remains bright, due to increasingly competitive pricing down the road.  In today’s screencast a look at the battleground that is solar stocks.

Temperatures are soaring across the U.S., but things are really sizzlin’ at one of the countries most important players in the solar power industry.  Yet it is a record $460.4 million order for advanced sapphire crystallization furnaces from an unnamed Chinese customer in the LED industry has turned up the heat at GT Solar International, Inc.