En May 2026, solar energy provided more electricity than coal in the United States for the first time in history. According to data from Ember, solar accounted for 12.8% of electricity generation, while coal fell to 12.2%, its fourth lowest monthly share recorded.
This change occurs despite President Donald Trump’s attempts to bolster the coal industry through subsidies and supportive policies.
Context and Trends
- Solar has established itself as the third largest source of electricity in the U.S., behind natural gas and nuclear.
- Coal generation hit historic lows in April and barely rebounded in May.
- Electricity demand is growing after two decades of stagnation, driven by artificial intelligence, electrification of transport and heating, and domestic industrial production.
Policies and Tensions
While the White House defends energy policy as a reinforcement of national security, analysts and associations point out that regulatory attacks slow the development of clean energy:
- The administration canceled solar and wind projects and cut 7 billion dollars in funding for affordable solar energy.
- SEIA and Wood Mackenzie report that solar and battery storage accounted for 91% of new installed capacity in the first quarter of 2026.
- A federal judge overturned guidelines that limited tax breaks for renewable projects.
Economy and Market
According to Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene, “investors will put their money where they get the best return, and today that is solar.” Solar energy is the fastest-growing fuel, scalable and cheaper than any other source.
Johanna Neumann, from Environment America, emphasizes that solar “is our most abundant source and hard to stop, because the economy also plays in its favor.”
Geographic Distribution
Paradoxically, the states won by Trump in 2024 concentrate 74% of the installed solar capacity in the first quarter of 2026. Among them are:
- Texas
- Florida
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Arizona
- Mississippi
In total, the U.S. surpasses six million solar installations across all segments: large plants, community projects, commercial and residential.
Global Perspective
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that renewables will account for nearly 45% of global electricity generation by 2030. In the U.S., solar is expected to surpass coal on an annual basis within a few years.
Solar energy “is here to stay,” even in a context of adverse federal policies.
The sustained growth of solar against the decline of coal reflects a structural transformation of the U.S. energy system, driven by the economy, technological innovation, and climate urgency.
