It seems as if now would be the time to shine for solar panel makers, but a lack of a key raw material will cloud the picture for many over the next couple of years.

With concerns about high fossil fuel prices and greenhouse emissions driving demand for renewable, cleaner energy sources, solar stocks have been, well, hot. But while solar companies are sold out of current capacity, efforts to try to expand to meet rising demand are being thwarted by a shortage of silicon.

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