Solar beats coal in the US electricity mix for the first month ever
Electrek • • business
Key Points:
- In May 2026, solar power generated more electricity than coal in the US for the first time on record, supplying 12.8% compared to coal’s 12.2%, according to Ember analysis.
- Solar generation reached a record 45.5 terawatt-hours in May 2026, a 17% increase from the previous year, and is expected to break records again during the summer months.
- Solar became the third-largest individual electricity source in the US, behind natural gas and nuclear, while coal usage continues to decline, hitting historic lows earlier in the year.
- This milestone follows another clean energy achievement in March 2026, when renewables collectively generated more electricity than natural gas for the first time in the US.
- Despite political challenges, the rapid growth of solar and other renewables is significantly reshaping the US electricity grid and energy market.