June 11, 2026
Sun’s out, coal’s out
Solar generates more energy in US than coal for first time
Coal just got outshined as commenters cheer, nitpick, and ask who’s really next
TLDR: Solar produced more US electricity than coal for the first time in May, a major sign that cleaner power is gaining ground even as Trump pushes coal. Commenters split between celebrating coal’s decline, joking that oil is next, and warning that natural gas is still the real giant to beat.
America’s power chart just delivered a plot twist: in May, solar made 12.8% of US electricity, edging past coal at 12.2% for the first time. That’s a big symbolic moment, especially with Donald Trump publicly trying to boost coal with a nearly $700 million support plan. But in the comments, people weren’t just celebrating — they were instantly turning it into a fight, a forecast, and a meme.
The loudest reaction was pure victory-lap energy. One commenter dropped the brutally short mic-drop, “Oil next.” Others treated coal’s slip like overdue karma, with one person saying coal has been unpopular almost everywhere except places where mining still props up local jobs. That same commenter painted a grim real-life picture of living near a coal plant, with grime collecting on cars — the kind of detail that hits harder than any spreadsheet.
But not everyone was ready to pop champagne. A counterpoint quickly arrived: this isn’t just solar suddenly becoming king, it’s also coal shrinking for years while natural gas has been the real heavyweight all along. Another commenter brought receipts with Our World in Data, basically saying: nice milestone, but let’s not act like gas is sweating yet.
And because the internet can never resist a joke, someone replied with a nostalgic YouTube classic, turning an energy milestone into a full-on comment-section variety show. The vibe? Half celebration, half reality check, all drama.
Key Points
- •Solar supplied 12.8% of US electricity in May, surpassing coal’s 12.2% share for the first time, according to Ember.
- •Solar became the third-largest source of US electricity in May, behind natural gas and nuclear.
- •Coal generation reached an all-time monthly low in April and rose only modestly in May, enabling solar to overtake it.
- •SEIA and Wood Mackenzie said solar and battery storage accounted for 91% of all new generating capacity in the first quarter, and solar has been the top source of new power for five years.
- •The Trump administration announced nearly $700m in support for coal-fired power plants and coal exports even as the article reports continued solar growth and coal decline.