Solar power hits new milestones in the U.S. even as Trump boosts coal over clean energy

By — Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/solar-power-hits-new-milestones-in-the-u-s-even-as-trump-boosts-coal-over-clean-energy Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Solar power hits new milestones in the U.S. even as Trump boosts coal over clean energy Nation Jun 10, 2026 5:18 PM EDT Even as President Donald Trump boosts coal over clean energy, solar power is hitting new milestones in the U.S. and remains the leading source of new power. Data released Wednesday by global energy think tank Ember, along with a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, show the continued growth of solar and decline of coal in the United States despite federal policy. In May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation's electricity than coal, or 12.8%, Ember said. Coal supplied 12.2%, its fourth-lowest monthly share ever. Grow your mind Subscribe to our Science Newsletter to explore the wide worlds of science, health and technology. "For years solar power has risen in the U.S. electricity mix," said Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy and data analyst at Ember. "At the same time, coal power has lost its status, first as the largest source in the U.S. mix, and then gradually over the years has fallen even further." Solar also became the third-largest source of electricity in the U.S. in May, behind natural gas and nuclear, Fulghum said. Coal generation hit an all-time monthly low in April and rebounded only modestly in May, allowing increasing solar generation to overtake coal, he added. READ MORE: Rising energy costs force some states to reassess ambitious climate goals Electricity is produced by converting sources of energy — fossil fuels, renewable resources and nuclear — into electrical power. Burning coal, oil and natural gas for electricity emits carbon dioxide, trapping heat in the atmosphere and warming the planet. By contrast, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and nuclear are carbon-free. After about two decades of essentially flat electricity consumption in the U.S., electricity demand is increasing to power artificial intelligence, grow domestic manufacturing and electrify transportation and heating. Fulghum said he expects to see more months when solar exceeds coal generation, before overtaking it on an annual basis in a few years. READ MORE: Zeldin tells climate skeptics to 'celebrate vindication' after repeal of baseline climate rule These milestones signify that solar "has staying power" at a time when there's less support for renewable energy at the federal level, he added. Wind and solar combined have overtaken coal in the past, and wind power alone has outpaced coal during spring months when wind speeds pick up. Ember gets its hourly and monthly data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Globally, electricity generation from renewables