The biggest solar story isn’t that it passed coal and wind. It’s what happens next
In May, solar generated more electricity than either coal or wind across the United States for the first time in a single month. New figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show solar produced 47,147 gigawatt-hours , ahead of coal’s 45,119. Over the first five months of 2026, utility-scale solar output rose 21.6 percent from a year earlier, while coal generation dropped 10.9…
In May, solar energy production surpassed both coal and wind in the United States for the first time in a single month, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Solar produced 47,147 gigawatt-hours, outpacing coal's output of 45,119 gigawatt-hours. Over the first five months of 2026, utility-scale solar output grew by 21.6 percent compared to the previous year, while coal generation decreased by 10.9 percent.
