Americans Draw More Electricity from Solar than Coal for First Time

Solar Outshines Coal in US Power Generation for the First Time

In an unprecedented development, an analysis of government data by energy think tank Ember shows that solar energy surpassed coal as a source of electricity in the United States for the first time. In May, solar energy accounted for 12.8% of the nation’s electricity, while coal contributed only 12.2%. This comes as a significant milestone, given that, five years ago, solar energy contributed less than half of its current level, with coal at 20%.

Nicolas Fulghum, a senior data analyst at Ember, commented on this landmark moment in a press release. He said, “From being a niche contributor to becoming the third-largest and fastest-growing source of power in the U.S. electricity system, solar has come a long way. The U.S. markets, from Texas to California, are increasingly banking on solar to meet their escalating power needs.”

Renewable Energy Faces Political Challenges

The surge in solar power has occurred in spite of the political climate turning against renewable energy. Last year, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which repealed large parts of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s landmark climate change legislation. Furthermore, President Donald Trump has taken active measures to obstruct the growth of renewable energy by offering to pay oil companies billions to halt the development of offshore wind projects.

In the same month, the Trump administration committed to investing $700 million in the coal industry, using funds originally allocated to lessen the dependence on fossil fuels. The funding includes the construction of the country’s first new coal-fired power plants in over a decade. President Trump, a well-known coal industry advocate, claimed that this move would lower energy prices and living costs for Americans through the “power of clean, beautiful coal.”

Future of the Coal Industry

Ember’s analysis revealed a slight increase in coal generation in May compared to April, when coal production reached a historical low. The coal industry’s share of the power grid is also expected to rise during the summer, when cooling demands peak. However, a consistent downward trend in coal production over the past few years suggests that the coal industry may not fully recover.

Environmental group Evergreen Action’s executive director, Lena Moffitt, told the Associated Press that the $700 million investment in the coal industry is akin to “throwing a lifeline to a ship that has already sunk.” On the contrary, Rich Nolan, the president and CEO of the National Mining Association, argued that coal generation protects consumers from the impacts of unpredictable energy prices and supply issues worsened by AI.

Solar Energy’s Upward Trend

Despite the political and legislative challenges faced by renewable energy, experts predict that the solar market will continue to grow. Although solar installations dropped in 2025 compared to 2024, more than half of all the newly installed electricity capacity still comes from solar, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association. Even influencers who support the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement are promoting solar power.

The director of climate policy at the Sierra Club, Patrick Drupp, believes that renewable energy will continue to expand its share in the power grid. He stated, “That’s good for people’s wallets, it’s good for their health, it’s good for the planet.”