Solar Outproduced Coal in the U.S. for the First Time in May

Today’s Focus

A milestone in the U.S. electricity mix arrived in May, when solar power generated a larger share of the nation’s electricity than coal for the first time.

The figures came from Ember, a global energy thinktank, which published its analysis Wednesday. A separate report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the analytics firm Wood Mackenzie tracked the same trend.

According to Ember, solar accounted for 12.8% of electricity generation in May. Coal trailed at 12.2%, marking its fourth-lowest monthly share on record.

Nicolas Fulghum, a senior energy and data analyst at Ember, said solar’s rise has been building for years. He noted that coal once held the top spot in the U.S. generation mix before steadily losing ground.

Fulghum added that solar also climbed to become the third-largest electricity source in May, ranking behind only natural gas and nuclear power.

The crossover happened partly because of coal’s own decline. Ember reported that coal generation reached an all-time monthly low in April, then recovered only slightly in May, leaving room for solar to pass it.

The shift comes as President Donald Trump has moved to support coal and scale back federal backing for clean energy, according to The Guardian.

Solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and nuclear produce electricity without emitting carbon dioxide. Burning coal, oil and natural gas releases carbon dioxide that warms the planet.

Demand is also rising. After roughly two decades of flat U.S. electricity consumption, The Guardian reported that load is climbing again, driven in part by data centers running artificial intelligence.

The Debate

Supporters argue

Clean-energy advocates point to the numbers as proof that solar has become competitive on cost and speed, not just on emissions. The Solar Energy Industries Association has long argued that solar is the leading source of new generating capacity added to the grid.

Backers contend that solar projects can be built quickly to meet surging demand from data centers and electrification, filling a gap that slower-to-build sources cannot.

Ember’s Nicolas Fulghum framed the trend as a long arc, saying solar has steadily risen in the mix while “coal power has lost its status.” Supporters say that momentum reflects market forces rather than mandates.

They also argue the milestone strengthens energy independence. Domestic solar generation is not exposed to fuel-price swings the way coal and gas plants are, advocates say.

For climate-focused groups, displacing coal carries the added benefit of cutting carbon dioxide and conventional air pollutants. They argue that every month coal cedes share, public-health and emissions costs fall.

Critics argue

Skeptics caution that a single strong month does not settle the question of reliability. Solar generation peaks seasonally and during daylight, and critics note May is a favorable month for output.

The Trump administration and many coal-state officials argue that dispatchable power, available on demand regardless of weather, remains essential for grid stability. They contend coal and natural gas provide baseload reliability that intermittent solar cannot match without large-scale storage.

Critics also point to cost questions. They argue that rapid renewable buildouts can shift expenses onto ratepayers through transmission upgrades and backup capacity.

Some warn that retiring coal too quickly leaves the grid vulnerable during demand spikes, especially as AI data centers drive consumption higher. They say firm capacity must keep pace.

Coal-industry advocates add that the sector still supports jobs and tax bases in specific regions. They argue federal policy reversals away from coal threaten those communities even as national generation shifts.

What the experts say

Independent analysts describe the crossover as a continuation of a years-long structural decline in coal rather than a sudden break. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has documented coal’s falling share of generation across more than a decade, as cheaper natural gas and expanding renewables displaced it.

Researchers note the May figure is partly seasonal. Solar output rises in late spring and summer, so monthly leads can narrow in winter when daylight shortens.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory studies have found solar and wind among the lowest-cost sources for new capacity in many U.S. markets, helping explain why developers favor them.

Analysts also flag the demand backdrop. EIA projections show U.S. electricity consumption rising after years of stability, driven by data centers, electrification and manufacturing, which raises questions about whether new clean capacity can be built fast enough to meet load while maintaining reliability.

By the Numbers

12.8%: solar’s share of U.S. electricity generation in May 2026, the first month it exceeded coal, according to Ember.

12.2%: coal’s share in May 2026, its fourth-lowest monthly figure on record, per Ember.

3rd: solar’s rank among U.S. electricity sources in May, behind natural gas and nuclear, according to Ember analyst Nicolas Fulghum.

April 2026: the month U.S. coal generation hit an all-time monthly low before a modest May rebound, per Ember.

~20 years: the span of roughly flat U.S. electricity demand that preceded the recent rise, according to The Guardian.

Leading source: solar remained the top contributor of new U.S. generating capacity, according to the SEIA and Wood Mackenzie report.