Coal news and updates

Wind Overtakes Coal In March, April In U.S. Electricity Production

Wind turbines on a ridge tower over the deserted Corridor H highway in northern West Virginia.Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Wind outpaced coal in electricity generation for two straight months in the spring.

Electricity generated from wind exceeded electricity generated from coal nationwide in March and April, 

Wind alone surpassed coal for the first time in April 2023. It did so again this year, but for the first time, for two consecutive months.

Wind and solar combined produced more electricity than coal in the first five months of the year. They did last year, too, but the gap has grown wider.

Wind and solar are forecast to overtake coal for the full year, driven by a rapid expansion of solar.

Coal’s share of electricity generation has fallen to 16 percent from 20 percent two years ago. 

Two decades ago, coal generated more than 40 percent of U.S. electricity. Natural gas has largely eroded its dominance, and renewables are beginning to chip away at what remains.