First Solar plans on a capacity expansion to 2

First Solar Owns a Gold,What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies. Silver and Tellurium Mine?


First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR) is by far the leading producer of cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar panels (and the leading producer of thin-film solar panels, for that matter). The firm is the largest solar company by market capitalization at $10.37 billion.

First Solar plans on a capacity expansion to 2.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts,9 gigawatts by 2012. That's a lot of solar panels, a lot of CdTe photovoltaic materials, and a lot of CdTe constituent materials -- cadmium and tellurium.

Tellurium is a byproduct of copper mining and there is an ongoing debate over whether the global tellurium supply can support the growing needs of the solar industry. Tellurium is also used to improve the machinability of steel and copper, as a component in CD-RW disks and for other semiconductor applications.

Prices for tellurium surged from under $100 per kilogram in 2007 to over $200 per kilogram in 2008, according to Lita Shon-Roy of market research firm Techcet Group. Tellurium prices rose to $235 to $295 per kilogram early this year according to MetalBulletin. It is estimated that thirty percent of the global tellurium supply goes to First Solar -- and that proportion is increasing. Rising tellurium prices might spur companies to consider a more active exploration and mining operation, rather than depending on tellurium as a metallurgical byproduct.

So, where is First Solar going to get a predictable source of tellurium?

Answer: From the gold mine in Mexico it appears to own. A 10K SEC document filed by California Gold Corp (CLGL:OTC BB) says, "Minera Teloro, S.A. de C.The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers.V.," which,the Injection mold fast! to our knowledge, is a subsidiary of First Solar.We processes for both low-risk and high risk merchant account.

Challenges

This week's challenge involves mud, weird rubber saucer-type-things, and a really bad decision on Marci's part.

Alison explains to the contestants that there is going to be an obstacle course set up in a pit of mud. Each team will start out with three contestants, and they will have to kneel on the rubber saucers, and pass a fourth saucer up the line in order to slowly advance through the mud. Once they have advanced thirty feet, they will pick up another teammate and saucer, and when they have advanced fifty feet, they will pick up another teammate and saucer. The first team to the end wins, but if anyone's foot touches the ground they have to go back and try again. So, basically, it's The Biggest Loser's version of that hot lava game you played as a kid.

Marci has to sit out one player, and for some strange reason keeps Sarah and sits out Courtney. Courtney and the rest of the team are surprised.

Red gets to the 30-foot mark first. Pulling the saucers out of the mud takes brute strength, which Rulon has and Sarah does not. Red has a pretty indisputable lead, but then Moses lets his foot hit the mud and they have to go back. Black has a chance to redeem themselves. However, Red creeps up from behind very quickly.  The two teams are neck-in-neck at the finished, when Ken's foot slips into the mud. Red has to go back again, and as a result Black wins the challenge and a cool $6,000.

Last Chance Workouts

The Last Chance Workouts involve Cara pushing Ken, Moses, and Justin down onto gym mats, yelling at them to get up, and then pushing them down again. This is supposed to be helpful to them somehow. Also, she and Justin push each other around and it looks like they're going to make out, which is a scary thought. Especially because they're screaming in each other's faces about healing and fighting and things like that.

Meanwhile, Bob and Jillian have people doing stations. No one is making out or pushing people. I like that about Bob and Jillian.

Is Astroturf Eco After All?

Who would have thought that artificial turf would be good for the environment? I know

I have always thought of it as a blight, a replacement for natural grass that didn't

make environmental sense. Turns out I was short-sighted in my judgement of turf. It

saves natural resources and provides another use for a potentially caustic waste

product.

According to the Synthetic Turf Council, replacing natural grass fields with

artificial turf can save substantial amounts of water, three billion gallons in North

America. Also, the turf doesn't require fertilizers or pesticides to keep it looking

green, saving over a billion pounds in chemicals. Mowing is not required, saving

energy and reducing smog emissions. This lack of maintenance is one reason it is the

perfect surface for indoor arenas.

Artificial turf is made of recycled tires, called crumb rubber, keeping them from

inhabiting landfills or being burned. According to Liberty Tire Recycling, over 105

million used tires have been recycled to make turf in North America. Liberty is the

number one provider of recycled tires in the U.S.

The crumb rubber provides cushioning and springiness to the turf, protecting athletes

from injury. It also helps the turf dry quickly, drain excess water, reduce mud and

dust, and minimize freezing. Crumb rubber is also used to make welcome mats,

antifatigue mats, portable speedbumps, and weightlifting plates.

"Synthetic turf is an excellent investment for the environment," said Jeffrey Kendall,

CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling. "It provides an outlet for millions of scrap tires and

helps to keep these tires out of the waste stream. We hope that the work and research

the Synthetic Turf Council performs will help to increase awareness about the numerous

benefits synthetic turf can provide for our environment and our communities."

While it may not single-handedly save the planet, artificial turf can lower the

environmental impact of sports arenas and fields, as well as saving on maintenance

expenses.

Shropshire farms raided by burglars

Thieves have raided two small farms in Shropshire and made off with 11 chickens, an

electric fence and even rugs from the back of horses.

The landowners in Ryton and Beckbury, near Shifnal, have been left thousands of pounds

out of pocket after suffering three thefts in just three weeks.

One of the victims, John Lamb, 66, from Beckbury, said the thieves also stole a chicken

coop, horse food, solar lights, eight 4×4 tyres and several pieces of equestrian

equipment.

"The buildings are quite secure and it would have required someone of a very small

stature, but very strong, to get in and move around," he said.

"They took some rubber mats and they can weight up to 100lbs. They also took the

electric fence and that alone is about £180 and the battery is another £80.

"All of the stuff taken is essential for what we do and they know that. They know we

will have to replace it and I am sure they are thinking they can come back and just

have it for free again.

"On all occasions they got in by cutting a stock fence and barbed wire and even removed

a beech tree."

Mr Lamb said as well as the monetary cost, the thieves have taken away their beloved

animals.

"My wife Victoria has become quite attached to the chickens. You get attached to these

animals and then someone decides they can have them for free.

"Someone out there is enjoying free range eggs and it's not us.

"A lot of the things they stole were equestrian tools. No one, even a keen gardener,

would have any use for them other than for looking after horses.

"They knew what they were coming for.

"They don't come at 2am like you would expect, they would come at about 9pm in the

evening which means no one is suspicious of a white van pulled up, they could be just

making a phone call.

"Most of the items have our postcode on them and we have used the Smart Water

technology so I hope some of can be returned to us."

Anyone with information is asked to call police in Shifnal on 0300 3333000.