For the first seven months of 2024 C.E., wind and solar energy generation in the U.S. produced more net electricity than coal — a milestone that has never happened before in the country’s history. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration confirmed the crossing, and analysts say the gap may keep widening for the rest of the year.
At a glance
- Wind and solar energy: Combined renewable generation outpaced coal for January through July 2024 C.E., according to the EIA’s Monthly Energy Review — the first time this has ever occurred over a seven-month stretch.
- Wind capacity growth: Wind alone beat coal in two consecutive months — March and April — generating a record 47.7 gigawatt-hours in April compared to coal’s 37.2 gigawatt-hours that same month.
- Solar expansion: The U.S. was on track to add 36.4 gigawatts of utility-scale solar capacity in 2024 C.E., more than double the 18.4 gigawatts added the year before.
Why this crossing matters
In 2023 C.E., renewables outpaced coal for the first five months of the year. But when summer energy demand spiked — during what was the Northern Hemisphere’s hottest summer in 2,000 years — coal clawed back its lead.
In 2024 C.E., renewables held their ground through the summer heat. That’s significant. If wind and solar can beat coal even when air conditioners run at full tilt, the trend is no longer seasonal. It may be structural.
“I think it is an important milestone,” said Ric O’Connell, executive director of GridLab, speaking to Scientific American. “I think you’re seeing a solar surge and a coal decline and hence the lines are crossing.”
Twenty-five years of quiet progress
The numbers behind this moment took decades to build. In 2000 C.E., the U.S. had just 2.4 gigawatts of wind capacity. By spring 2024 C.E., that figure had grown to more than 150 gigawatts. Solar capacity grew by more than 99 gigawatts over the same period.
Coal moved in the opposite direction. The U.S. had 315.1 gigawatts of coal capacity in 2000 C.E. By April 2024 C.E., that had fallen to 177.1 gigawatts — a drop of nearly 44%.
Wind production in 2024 C.E. was up about 8% year over year. About 2.5 gigawatts of new wind capacity had been added by June, with another 4.5 gigawatts expected before year’s end, according to Scientific American.
Grid resilience in a hotter world
Beyond raw generation numbers, the reliability story is changing too. O’Connell credited wind, solar, and battery storage with stabilizing the Texas energy grid during the brutal summer of 2024 C.E. In California, officials with the California Independent System Operator praised renewables and battery storage for preventing major disruptions when July became the state’s hottest month on record.
That matters because the old knock on renewables was always reliability. Critics argued that sun and wind couldn’t be counted on when the grid was under stress. The summer of 2024 C.E. offered a different data point.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration data also reflects how quickly the economics of energy are shifting. Utility-scale solar is now often the cheapest form of new electricity generation to build, which is a big reason why installations are accelerating so fast.
What’s still unresolved
Seven months is not a full year, and coal still powers a significant portion of U.S. electricity — especially during demand peaks in regions where renewable infrastructure remains thin. The International Energy Agency has noted that global coal use hit a record high in 2023 C.E., a reminder that progress in one country doesn’t automatically translate worldwide. Building enough transmission infrastructure to move renewable power where it’s needed most remains a serious and unsolved challenge across the U.S.
Read more
For more on this story, see: EcoWatch
For more from Good News for Humankind, see:
- Renewables now make up at least 49% of global power capacity
- U.K. cancer death rates down to their lowest level on record
- The Good News for Humankind archive on renewable energy
About this article
- 🤖 This article is AI-generated, based on a framework created by Peter Schulte.
- 🌍 It aims to be inspirational but clear-eyed, accurate, and evidence-based, and grounded in care for the Earth, peace and belonging for all, and human evolution.
- 💬 Leave your notes and suggestions in the comments below — I will do my best to review and implement where appropriate.
- ✉️ One verified piece of good news, one insight from Antihero Project, every weekday morning. Subscribe free.
