Solar Generates More U.S. Electricity Than Coal in May

For the first time on record, solar power generated more electricity in the United States than coal in a calendar month, marking a significant milestone in the nation's evolving energy mix. According to data released in June 2026 by the global energy think tank Ember, solar supplied 12.8% of U.S. electricity generation in May, narrowly edging out coal's 12.2% share.

The shift makes solar the third-largest source of electricity in the country for the month, behind natural gas and nuclear power. The milestone reflects years of steady growth for solar and a prolonged decline for coal, which once dominated the U.S. power sector. In May 2021, coal provided 19.7% of generation, while solar accounted for just 5.4%.

Analysts described the change as a structural shift driven by market forces. Solar generation hit a record 45.5 terawatt-hours in May 2026, a 17% increase from the same month a year earlier. Coal generation, meanwhile, had hit an all-time monthly low in April before a modest rebound in May. Nicolas Fulghum, a senior data analyst at Ember, said the overtaking of coal shows how solar has moved from a niche contributor to a major part of the power system.