Wind and solar may produce more energy than coal in the US this year

For the first time in U.S. history, renewable energy sources have generated more electricity than coal for seven consecutive months. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), wind and solar power produced more net electricity for the nation than coal from January through July 2024.

In addition to this development, the EIA also found that wind energy alone outpaced coal in both March and April of this year. Experts suggest this shift in energy production sources may not be a temporary one. ClimateWire predicted that wind and solar may continue to outperform coal throughout the entirety of 2024, a projection shared by the EIA.

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“The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects, for the first year on record, combined electricity generation from wind and solar to surpass generation from coal in 2024,” EIA Administrator Joseph DeCarolis said in a statement. “Renewables, particularly solar photovoltaics, are growing rapidly and making large contributions to electricity generation.”

In 2023, wind and solar overtook coal through the month of May, until the summer months brought increased power demand which caused coal to regain its lead. However, with more coal-fired power plants being retired and additional renewable energy infrastructure being developed, this year may see renewables maintain their lead even through the high-demand summer period.