geothermal power. Despite growing installations, manufacturers are feeling a pinch. Prices have fallen faster than many manufacturers have cut costs, and smaller manufacturers in expensive countries feel the pain more than larger companies operating in China and other low-cost countries. "You can't make any money manufacturing in the U.S. because you can't compete," said Paula Mints, a solar market analyst at Navigant Consulting. U.S. solar-panel makers supplied about 6% of global demand in 2010. That figure is likely to decline this year, Mints predicted. Solon decided to shut down its U.S. factory before the recent price slide because large, low-priced Chinese manufacturers had scaled up production, said Ed Wegener, vice president of Solon's U.S. operations. "For us to think we could make what is essentially a commodity product, versus big Chinese players, that didn't make sense," Wegener said in an interview. "We recognized the reality earlier than some people have." Solon still operates three factories in Europe. In the U.S., the company will sell its European panels and build projects using some of its own panels and some made by Asian rivals. As part of a plan to boost U.S. renewable-energy generation and create jobs, the Obama administration has provided nearly $1.6 billion in loan guarantees to solar manufacturers and $14.3 billion in loan guarantees to solar power-plant developers. U.S.-based First Solar Inc. (FSLR), one of the world's largest manufacturers and developers, is getting more than $5.3 billion in loan guarantees to build four large solar farms. The company has a solar-panel factory in Ohio, but makes most of its products in Malaysia. First Solar didn't seek a loan guarantee for a second U.S. factory it is building. Company executives have suggested the U.S. can best support manufacturing by creating long-term financial incentives and a national renewable-energy rizo Plain, a core recovery area for the endangered San Joaquin kit fox and giant kangaroo rats. Both companies previously agreed to protect and preserve the species and had received project approvals from various federal, state and local agencies. Under the latest agreement with the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and Center for Biological Diversity, SunPower and Topaz have committed to additional environmental benefits, such as prohibiting use of rodenticides and removing 30 miles of fencing to allow for greater wildlife movement around the projects. First Solar representatives weren't immediately available for comment. Total S.A. (TOT, FP.FR) acquired a 60% SunPower stake in June through a $1.4 billion tender offer. Last month, SunPower predicted its second-quarter loss and adjusted gros