China's JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd reported a quarterly net loss Tuesday and said it would fall short of its 2009 revenue target as tight credit markets and a global economic downturn cut demand for solar power. Solar gloom overshadows Q-Cells, Solon: A lack of project funding threatens to undermine the solar industry's already fragile growth prospects, two of the sector's biggest players said on Tuesday, reporting profits that missed market forecasts.

Bail-outs for solar startups would be much cheaper than bailing out big banks or big Detroit, and would have a big long-term payoff.