Solar overtakes coal in US electricity for the first month on record

Solar generated a record 12.8% of US electricity in May 2026 (45.5 TWh), overtaking coal's 12.2% (43.4 TWh) — the first time in US history that solar exceeded coal in any single month. Coal's share has nearly halved in five years (19.7% → 12.2%), while solar more than doubled (5.4% → 12.8%).

This is a seasonal milestone — solar's share of the mix peaks in April/May when output is high and cooling demand is still moderate. Coal will likely regain the lead in winter months. The long-term structural trend, however, is clear.