What follows is a roundup of corporate earnings reports for Thursday, Nov. 19.

Nine chief executives and chairmen from around the world have signed up for an exclusive CNBC initiative, "The Carbon Council", aimed at identifying opportunities in clean technology and the larger business of sustainability. 

Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday announced plans for a Chinese-owned solar panel maker to build its U.S. headquarters and a manufacturing plant in the Phoenix area, propelling one of the nation's sunniest states toward a bigger global presence in the renewable energy industry.

See which10 companies ranked on top.

With cheap loans, electricity and labor, Chinese companies are pulling ahead in the race to go solar, reports the New York Times.

The solar energy industry will grow faster than expected during the next few years as American utilities invest heavily in large-scale solar farms, analysts with Barclays Capital said in a research note.

Shares of Chinese solar energy company Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. closed up 6 percent Thursday as the company signaled improving demand despite a drop in quarterly earnings.