en.Wedoany.com Reported - Solar power in the United States surpassed coal for the first time in May, accounting for 12.8% of the nation's electricity supply, compared to coal's 12.2%. Data released by global energy think tank Ember shows this marks the fourth lowest monthly share for coal. Reports from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie also confirm the trend of continued solar growth and coal decline.
Nicolas Fulghum, Senior Energy and Data Analyst at Ember, stated that solar energy's share in the U.S. electricity mix has been rising for years, while coal power has lost its position as the largest source and continues to decline. In May, solar became the third-largest electricity source in the U.S., behind natural gas and nuclear power. After coal power hit a historic monthly low in April, it only rebounded slightly in May, allowing solar generation to surpass coal.
After roughly two decades of flat electricity consumption in the U.S., demand is now increasing, driven by artificial intelligence, domestic manufacturing growth, and the electrification of transportation and heating. Fulghum expects more months where solar generation exceeds coal before solar's annual output surpasses coal. He noted that these milestones demonstrate solar energy's staying power.
Despite President Trump's support for coal over clean energy and reduced federal policy support for renewables, solar energy continues to grow. The Trump administration recently proposed nearly $700 million in plans to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports, while canceling solar and wind projects and terminating $7 billion in funding for affordable solar projects across the U.S. However, solar has been the primary source of new electricity generation for five consecutive years. Data from SEIA and Wood Mackenzie shows that in the first quarter, almost only solar and battery storage were under construction, accounting for 91% of all new generation capacity.
States that supported Trump lead in solar installation capacity. SEIA stated that states won by Trump in the 2024 election account for 74% of all solar installation capacity in the first quarter of 2026, with Texas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona, and Mississippi among the top ten states for new solar capacity. Currently, the total number of solar installations in the U.S. has exceeded 6 million, including large-scale solar arrays, commercial, community, and residential rooftop solar.
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