US Solar Exceeds Coal in Monthly Generation for First Time

Ember data from US Energy Information Administration hourly records show solar at 12.8% of US electricity in May versus coal at 12.2%. Solar ranked third behind natural gas and nuclear. Coal reached its fourth-lowest monthly share. SEIA and Wood Mackenzie quarterly data confirm solar plus storage accounted for 91% of new US capacity additions in Q1. EIA records indicate electricity demand rose after two decades of flat consumption, driven by data centers, manufacturing and electrification. IEA 2024 World Energy Outlook projects renewables reaching 45% of global generation by 2030. Ember notes solar has led new US capacity additions for five consecutive years. Federal actions canceled projects and terminated $7 billion in solar funding while coal support totaled $700 million. EIA series document coal's multi-year decline independent of short-term policy. Combined wind-solar surpassed coal in prior months during high-wind periods.