During May, solar energy reached a historic milestone by providing 12.8% of the total electricity produced in the United States. This figure exceeded coal's contribution of 12.2%, representing the first instance in history where solar output outperformed coal for an entire calendar month.
The shift was driven by a 17.0% year-over-year increase in solar generation throughout the month. Simultaneously, coal production experienced an 11.0% decline compared to the previous year, highlighting a significant transition in the domestic energy landscape.