Solar Power Tops Coal in Historic First for US Grid

For the first time, the sun has edged out coal on America's power charts. Per Bloomberg, solar provided 12.8% of US electricity in May, slightly ahead of coal's 12.2%, according to new analysis of federal data released Wednesday by clean energy think tank Ember. Solar output jumped 17% from a year earlier, while coal's share slid 11%. Natural gas remains the heavyweight in regard to electricity, supplying 37% of the nation's power.

The Guardian notes that wind and solar power together have overtaken coal power in the past, as has wind power alone in the spring, when winds are especially active. The latest shift comes as utilities and tech companies race to secure more electricity, including for AI data centers, per Bloomberg. Analysts say they're increasingly turning to solar because it's relatively cheap and quick to build, especially when paired with batteries that can store power after dark. Solar plus storage accounted for 91% of new US capacity added in the first quarter.

Ember analyst Nicolas Fulghum calls the move "a structural change in the US power system." The AP notes that the Trump administration has long boosted coal, and a White House spokesperson continued to defend that stance on the heels of Wednesday's solar news. "The president has reversed the left's devastating policies, saved the American coal industry, prevented the retirement of more than 17 gigawatts of power, and saved lives during heightened demand periods," Taylor Rogers said in a statement.