Solar power supplied 12.8% of U.S. electricity in May 2026, overtaking coal at 12.2% for the first time, according to data from energy think tank Ember. Solar is now the third-largest electricity source behind natural gas and nuclear, and remains the leading source of new generating capacity for the fifth straight year. The milestone comes as the Trump administration spends nearly $700 million to support coal plants and curtails clean energy permitting and funding. States that voted for Trump in 2024 accounted for 74% of all solar capacity installed in the first quarter of 2026, with Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Indiana among the top 10. Solar and battery storage made up 91% of all new U.S. generating capacity in Q1. Rising electricity demand from AI, manufacturing, and electrification is driving growth, and analysts expect solar to exceed coal on an annual basis within a few years.
