Solar supplied more U.S. electricity than coal for first time in May
Data from Ember and the Solar Energy Industries Association show solar generation reached 12.8 percent of U.S. electricity in May while coal fell to 12.2 percent. Solar also became the third-largest source behind natural gas and nuclear.
Abc NewsSolar generation supplied 12.8 percent of U.S. electricity in May, exceeding coal's 12.2 percent share for the first time, according to data released Wednesday by global energy think tank Ember. Coal's monthly output reached an all-time low in April before a modest rebound in May, allowing solar to overtake it, Ember senior energy and data analyst Nicolas Fulghum said.
Solar also became the third-largest source of electricity in the U.S. in May, behind natural gas and nuclear, Fulghum said.
Policy and demand context Electricity demand is rising after two decades of flat consumption to power artificial intelligence, domestic manufacturing, and electrification of transportation and heating. Fulghum said more months of solar exceeding coal are expected before solar surpasses coal on an annual basis within a few years.
Industry statements Solar and battery storage accounted for 91 percent of new generating capacity added in the first quarter, the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie reported. States won in the 2024 presidential election accounted for 74 percent of solar capacity installed in the first quarter of 2026, with Texas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona, and Mississippi among the top 10 states for additions, SEIA said.
The U.S. now exceeds 6 million total solar installations across utility-scale, commercial, community, and residential sectors. A White House spokeswoman said administration energy policies aim to strengthen national security and have prevented retirement of more than 17 gigawatts of power.
Darren Van't Hof, interim president and CEO of SEIA, said political and regulatory actions are slowing resources relied upon as power demand increases. Johanna Neumann, senior director at the Environment America Research and Policy Center, said solar growth benefits health and the environment and noted that 32 states generated at least 10 percent of retail electricity sales from solar, wind, and geothermal last year.
