A herd of sheep graze near solar panels in Saltillo, Texas, illustrating the growing presence of solar energy across the United States. In a historic first, solar power generated more electricity than coal in the US during May, supplying 12.8% of the nation's electricity compared to coal's 12.2%, according to data released Wednesday by global energy thinktank Ember. This milestone comes even as former President Donald Trump pushes policies to support the coal industry.
Data from Ember, along with a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, highlight the continued growth of solar and decline of coal despite federal policy shifts. In May, solar also became the third-largest source of electricity in the US, behind natural gas and nuclear, said Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy and data analyst at Ember. Coal generation hit an all-time monthly low in April and only modestly rebounded in May, allowing increasing solar generation to overtake coal.
Solar's Rising Role in the US Energy Mix
Electricity is produced by converting energy sources such as fossil fuels, renewable resources, and nuclear power into electrical power. Burning coal, oil, and natural gas emits carbon dioxide, which traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. In contrast, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and nuclear are carbon-free. After two decades of flat electricity consumption in the US, demand is rising to power artificial intelligence, expand domestic manufacturing, and electrify transportation and heating.
Fulghum expects more months where solar exceeds coal generation before overtaking it on an annual basis within a few years. These milestones signify that solar has staying power even with less federal support for renewable energy, he added. Wind and solar combined have previously overtaken coal, and wind power alone has outpaced coal during spring months when wind speeds increase. Ember sources its hourly and monthly data from the US Energy Information Administration.
Global Renewable Energy Growth
Globally, electricity generation from renewables is growing rapidly. According to the International Energy Agency, renewables will become the largest global energy source, accounting for almost 45% of electricity generation by 2030. Last week, Trump announced a plan to boost the struggling US coal industry by spending nearly $700 million to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports. At a White House event, Trump stated that coal is a great business and that nothing compares to it in terms of power.
Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Canadian solar panel manufacturer Heliene, noted that while Trump can claim coal is coming back, investors will invest where returns are best, and for power generation, that is solar, making it the fastest-growing fuel. A White House spokeswoman defended Trump's energy policies, saying they strengthen national security. Taylor Rogers said in a statement that Trump reversed the Left's policies, saved the American coal industry, prevented retirement of over 17 gigawatts of power, and saved lives during high demand periods.
Solar Leading New Power Capacity
Despite Trump's efforts to reverse coal's decline, solar has been the top source for new power for five years, according to SEIA. SEIA and Wood Mackenzie reported that solar and battery storage accounted for 91% of all new generating capacity in the first quarter, making them practically the only energy resources being built. The Trump administration canceled solar and wind projects, implemented policies slowing clean energy permitting and development, and terminated $7 billion in funding for affordable solar energy projects across the US.
These developments underscore the ongoing transition in the US energy landscape, with solar increasingly outperforming coal even amid political support for fossil fuels.
