Solar energy supplied 12.8% of US electricity in May 2026, surpassing coal at 12.2% for the first time. This marks a milestone in the country's energy transition.
Coal share drops to 12.2%
The shift reflects a steady decline in coal use and rapid growth in solar generation. Coal's share dropped from 19.7% in May 2021 to 12.2% in May 2026. Solar's share more than doubled from 5.4% to 12.8% over the same period.
Renewables collectively outpaced gas for the first time in March 2026, according to energy data from Ember. The trend highlights the accelerating shift away from fossil fuels.
The milestone is based on data from Ember, an energy think tank. It confirms that solar has become a significant part of the US electricity mix.
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