Founded in 2001, Konarka are one of many companies trying to perfect the technology.

CNN: Solar power enters the plastic age

So I am surprised that Romney was willing to lend state money to Konarka.

FORBES: Konarka: Mitt's Bankrupt Solar Bet

In 2009, Konarka installed a "curtain wall" to an outside section of its Florida offices as part of a pilot project.

CNN: Solar power enters the plastic age

Since Konarka was privately held, all this industry information was not as readily available to the public as it must have been to Romney.

FORBES: Konarka: Mitt's Bankrupt Solar Bet

In 2007, Chevron-Texaco's venture capital arm bought significant stakes in two solar energy companies: BrightSource Energy, a developer of utility-scale solar plants, and Konarka Technologies, a developer of photovoltaic materials.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Some may remember Konarka, a Massachusetts-based company working on creating flexible thin-film solar that could be applied to everything from tent material to clothing to the roof of a bus.

FORBES: More Solar Innovation: Stanford's Peel and Stick Flexible Application

Dozens of solar manufacturers worldwide have filed for bankruptcy in the past two years, including U.S. companies such as Solyndra, Abound Solar, Evergreen Solar, Energy Conversion Devices and Konarka Technologies.

FORBES: Suntech Cuts Back Solar Production, Lays Off 50 In Arizona

Last Friday, Konarka Technologies, a Lowell, Mass.

FORBES: Konarka: Mitt's Bankrupt Solar Bet