Solar power surpasses coal in US electricity generation for first time in May 2026, Ember data shows

Solar power generated 12.8 percent of U.S. electricity in May 2026, overtaking coal at 12.2 percent for the first time, according to data from global energy think tank Ember. The milestone comes despite President Donald Trump's policies favoring coal over clean energy. Solar also became the third-largest source of electricity in the U.S. in May, behind natural gas and nuclear. Coal generation hit an all-time monthly low in April 2026 and rebounded only modestly in May, allowing increasing solar output to take the lead. The data, released alongside reports from the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie, confirms a long-term trend: coal has lost its status as a dominant power source while solar continues to expand. U.S. electricity demand is rising to power artificial intelligence, domestic manufacturing, and transportation electrification. Solar remains the leading source of new power capacity, and its growth is expected to continue regardless of federal policy direction.