In a U.S. First, Solar Supplied More Power Than Coal Last Month
6 hours ago
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- #solar power
- In May, for the first time in the U.S., solar-generated electricity exceeded coal, with solar supplying 12.8% of power and coal at 12.2%, based on Ember analysis.
- Coal output hit a record low this month, despite Trump-era efforts to support aging plants, including an emergency order to keep a Florida plant online.
- Nationally, solar is growing but still trails natural gas, though California's renewables buildout is reducing gas use, with solar expected to surpass gas there this year.
- Globally, renewables overtook coal in 2023, with solar meeting new demand, while coal's share has declined for over a decade and gas for five years, peaking in growth.