Solar and wind beat coal in the US for the first time

is a senior science reporter covering energy and the environment with more than a decade of experience. She is also the host of Hell or High Water: When Disaster Hits Home , a podcast from Vox Media and Audible Originals. In a first for the US, wind and solar produced more electricity than coal last year, according to a new report from energy think tank Ember. Coal fell to a historic low, generating 15 percent of the country’s electricity compared to 17 percent from solar and wind combined. The federal government is now taking a sharp turn away from clean energy under the Trump administration. But the gains made last year show the market forces at play could keep momentum going despite President Donald Trump’s disdain for windmills and solar panels. “Solar is winning.” Solar was the fastest-growing source of electricity in 2024, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration. It accounted for 81 percent of added annual capacity. Utility scale solar grew by a record ... Read full article.