August 21, 2026.
Solar power generated more electricity than coal in the United States for the first time on record in May 2026, marking a significant shift in the nation's electricity mix.
According to an analysis by global energy think tank Ember of official U.S. electricity data, solar supplied 12.8% of U.S. electricity in May, compared with 12.2% from coal. Solar generation reached a record 45.5 terawatt-hours, 17% more than in May 2025.
The May crossover also made solar the third-largest individual source of U.S. electricity, behind natural gas and nuclear power. Ember described solar as the fastest-growing source of electricity in the country.
The change reflects a broader trend in the nation's electricity system. Over the past five years, coal's share of U.S. electricity generation has nearly been cut in half, falling from 19.7% in May 2021 to 12.2% in May 2026. Solar's share more than doubled during the same period, increasing from 5.4% to 12.8%.
Coal generation did increase slightly in May, reaching 43.4 terawatt-hours, but remained 11% below its May 2025 level. Coal generation had reached an all-time monthly low of 39.3 terawatt-hours in April.
The solar milestone comes as electricity demand continues to grow, including increased demand associated with data centers and other large power users. The Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie reported that the United States added 7.8 gigawatts of solar capacity during the first quarter of 2026, with more than 6 million solar installations nationwide.
Federal policy takes a different direction.
The growth of solar is occurring alongside a federal effort by the Trump administration to support the nation's coal industry.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced several separate initiatives supporting coal plants rather than a single $700 million coal package.
In June, DOE announced up to $350 million for projects intended to build, modernize or restart coal-fired power plants. The projects include proposed coal plants in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mt. Storm, West Virginia, with a combined planned capacity of 2,850 megawatts. Other projects would modernize an existing coal plant in Puerto Rico and recommission a coal facility in Maryland.
Earlier in 2026, DOE also announced $175 million to modernize coal-fired power plants, including two facilities in West Virginia.
DOE subsequently announced another initiative providing $425 million to support 13 coal plants, according to the department, with the goal of preserving more than 14 gigawatts of coal-fired generating capacity.
The federal actions highlight a continuing debate over the nation's energy future. Supporters of coal investments argue that maintaining existing generation can strengthen grid reliability and domestic energy supply. Critics contend that directing federal resources toward aging fossil-fuel infrastructure could slow the transition toward lower-emission energy sources.
Meanwhile, the underlying electricity data shows the U.S. power mix continuing to change. The Energy Information Administration reported in May that it expected solar generation to increase substantially in 2026 while coal's share of generation continued to decline.
The May solar milestone does not mean coal has disappeared from the U.S. power grid. Coal remains an important electricity source, particularly in several regions of the country. However, the data shows that solar has reached a point where its monthly contribution can exceed coal's nationally.
With solar production typically reaching its highest levels during the summer, additional monthly records remain possible in 2026.
Sources: Ember, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Solar Energy Industries Association/Wood Mackenzie and ABC News.
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