Solar energy reached a historic benchmark in the United States, outpacing coal in electricity generation for the first time during May, according to new research released Wednesday.
Information from global energy research organization Ember, alongside findings from the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie analytics company, reveals solar’s continued expansion despite current federal energy policies. During May, solar contributed 12.8% of the country’s electricity supply while coal provided 12.2%, marking coal’s fourth-lowest monthly percentage on record.
“For years solar power has risen in the U.S. electricity mix,” said Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy and data analyst at Ember. “At the same time, coal power has lost its status, first as the largest source in the U.S. mix, and then gradually over the years has fallen even further.”
May also marked solar’s rise to become the nation’s third-largest electricity source, trailing only natural gas and nuclear power, according to Fulghum. Coal production reached its lowest monthly level ever in April and showed only slight improvement in May, enabling solar’s growing output to surpass coal generation, he explained.
Power generation involves transforming various energy sources — including fossil fuels, renewable materials and nuclear fuel — into electrical energy. Coal, oil and natural gas combustion for electricity releases carbon dioxide, which traps atmospheric heat and contributes to global warming. Solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and nuclear sources produce no carbon emissions.
Following approximately twenty years of stable electricity usage nationwide, power demand is rising to support artificial intelligence systems, expand domestic manufacturing and electrify transportation and heating systems. Fulghum anticipates additional months where solar generation will exceed coal before permanently overtaking it annually within several years.
These achievements demonstrate that solar “has staying power” during a period of reduced federal renewable energy support, he noted.
Wind and solar technologies have previously combined to exceed coal generation, and wind alone has outperformed coal during spring seasons when wind conditions intensify. Ember obtains its hourly and monthly statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Worldwide, renewable electricity production is expanding rapidly. Renewable sources will become the dominant global energy provider, accounting for nearly 45% of electricity generation by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.
Last week, President Donald Trump unveiled a strategy to revitalize the declining U.S. coal sector by allocating nearly $700 million to support coal-powered facilities and coal exports. During a White House announcement, Trump stated that “coal’s a great business,” and that “in terms of power, there’s really nothing like it.”
Martin Pochtaruk, CEO and founder of Canadian-based solar panel manufacturer Heliene, said Trump can say that coal is coming back, but investors will invest their money in whatever brings the best return. And for power generation that is solar, making it the fastest-growing fuel, he added.
A White House spokeswoman defended the administration’s overall energy policies, saying they were geared toward strengthening the country’s security.
“The President has reversed the Left’s devastating policies, saved the American coal industry, prevented the retirement of more than 17 gigawatts of power, and saved lives during heightened demand periods,” Taylor Rogers said in a statement.
While President Donald Trump works to halt the coal industry’s downturn, solar has remained the primary source for new electricity capacity for five consecutive years, according to SEIA. SEIA and Wood Mackenzie reported that solar and battery storage represented virtually all energy infrastructure constructed during the first quarter, comprising 91% of new generating capacity.
The current administration has halted solar and wind developments, enacted policies that hindered clean energy approval and construction processes, and ended $7 billion in funding designated for affordable solar energy initiatives nationwide.
“As power demand skyrockets, political and regulatory attacks are slowing down the exact resources we rely on,” Darren Van’t Hof, interim president and CEO of SEIA, said in a statement. “Impeding the only sector that is actively building new power is a reckless gamble that will only drive electricity bills higher.”
Multiple organizations filed lawsuits against the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the cancellation of the Solar for All program. A district court dismissed the case last week citing lack of jurisdiction. The plaintiffs have another filing pending in the Court of Federal Claims.
In a ruling Saturday, a federal judge struck down guidance from the Internal Revenue Service restricting tax credits for wind and solar projects.
President Donald Trump has attributed rising energy costs to renewable sources like wind and solar power. However, energy experts indicate recent price increases stem from increasing demand, deteriorating infrastructure and more severe weather patterns intensified by climate change. Most recently, the war in Iran that Trump launched has also led to a spike in energy costs.
States that supported Trump in the 2024 election represented 74% of all solar installations during the first quarter of 2026, with Texas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona and Mississippi among the top ten states for new solar development, SEIA reported. The nation now surpasses 6 million total installations across all solar categories, including large-scale arrays, commercial systems, community solar and residential rooftop installations.
Johanna Neumann, at the Environment America Research and Policy Center, said it’s “good news for our health and our planet that solar continues to grow,” and also, not surprising.
“Today we can harness solar more affordably than any other energy source. It’s scalable. And it’s also our most abundant renewable energy source,” said Neumann, senior director of the center’s campaign for 100% renewable energy. “So I think it’s hard to keep the lid on a good idea, especially if the economics are tilting in your favor as well, which they are in the case of solar.”
Environment America’s renewable energy dashboard shows that 32 U.S. states generated at least 10% of their retail electricity sales from solar, wind and geothermal energy last year, compared to 18 states in 2016. Clean energy in the South is booming, particularly in Florida, Arkansas and Mississippi, Neumann said.
“I think there is a misconception in the United States that clean energy is something for the coasts and liberal cities,” she said. “The true story of renewable energy is a 50-state story.”
