Solar Power Surpasses Coal Generation in Historic Shift

WHO:

Kottke - Solar power and coal generation in the US.

The Guardian - Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy and data analyst at Ember; Martin Pochtaruk, CEO and founder of Heliene; Taylor Rogers, White House spokeswoman.

WHAT:

Kottke - Solar supplied a record 12.8% of US electricity, while coal fell to 12.2%.

The Guardian - Coal's share of electricity generation is at its fourth-lowest monthly share ever.

The Guardian - Solar became the third-largest source of electricity in the US in May, behind natural gas and nuclear.

The Guardian - Solar and battery storage made up 91% of all new generating capacity in the first quarter.

WHERE:

Kottke - United States.

The Guardian - US electricity mix.

WHEN:

Kottke - The event of solar overtaking coal occurred in May 2026.

The Guardian - Renewables are projected to become the largest global energy source by 2030.

WHY:

The Guardian - The growth of solar and decline of coal occurred despite federal policy favoring coal.

The Guardian - Trump announced a plan to boost the coal industry, stating “coal’s a great business” and “in terms of power, there’s really nothing like it”.

HOW:

The Guardian - Data was released by Ember, the Solar Energy Industries Association (Seia), and Wood Mackenzie.

The Guardian - The Trump administration has implemented policies that slowed clean energy permitting and development.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 19:52 UTC)

In a significant shift for the U.S. energy landscape, solar power supplied a record 12.8% of the nation's electricity in May 2026, surpassing coal, which fell to 12.2%, marking its fourth-lowest monthly share ever. This transition comes despite federal policies favoring coal, as President Trump recently announced a plan to boost the coal industry, emphasizing its importance in the energy sector. Notably, solar and battery storage accounted for an impressive 91% of all new generating capacity in the first quarter, with projections indicating that renewables are set to become the largest global energy source by 2030.