Here's some good news in that the California based company NanoSolar is now selling thin-film solar panels. They expect to offer some at a price of about $1 per watt. This is the point at which it breaks even with coal power for many applications. Their first production panels are being bought by a solar power plant in Germany. Will be interesting to see how fast this company grows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanosolar

http://nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=5392