Wind and solar power generated more electricity than coal last year for the first time in the United States amid growing energy demand. In 2024, wind and solar accounted for 17% of total electricity generation,

Solar is the fastest-growing source of electricity in the U.S. with growth occurring in all 50 states over the last 10 years.

The two renewable energy sources accounted for 17% of the country’s power mix while coal fell to a low of 15%. Natural gas remains by far the largest source of electricity, accounting for 43%.

In all, the United States generated a record 756,621 gigawatt-hours from both solar and wind last calendar year. That’s enough to power the equivalent of more than 70,000,000 average American homes. Solar and wind combine to account for a record 17% of the total generation in the U.S. in 2024.

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.