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🌱 U.S. Hits Milestone: Wind & Solar Overtake Coal for the First Time ☀️🏭

In 2024, wind and solar power generated more electricity than coal in the U.S. for the first time in history. Explore what drove this clean energy milestone and what it means for the future of power.

Author

Green Glow
March 24, 2025

In a landmark moment for the United States energy landscape, wind and solar power officially surpassed coal in electricity generation for the first time in 2024. Once the backbone of American industry, coal has now been edged out by clean energy sources that just a decade ago were seen as supplementary at best. This historic shift reflects not only technological progress but also a broader economic and political transformation that’s redefining how the world is powered.

Table of Contents

From Black Gold to Clean Watts

For over a century, coal fueled America’s factories, powered its homes, and drove its economic engine. But 2024 marked the end of coal's reign as wind and solar energy contributed 17% of the country’s electricity, while coal fell to a historic low of just 15%, according to a report by energy think tank Ember. That’s a stunning reversal for a fuel source that once supplied over half of the nation’s electricity.

Even more telling: wind alone outperformed coal during March and April, and solar and wind together generated 90 terawatt-hours more electricity compared to the previous year — enough to power around 9 million U.S. homes.

A Global Transition in Motion

The United States isn’t alone in this energy pivot. Across the globe, countries are accelerating their shift away from fossil fuels. In the European Union, wind and solar generated 30% of electricity in the first half of the year, compared to 27% from fossil fuels — a first for the region.

Even the United Kingdom, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, has now shuttered its last coal plant. The momentum is undeniable: the world is inching closer to what the International Energy Agency (IEA) has dubbed the "Age of Electricity."

Batteries: The Unsung Hero of Renewable Growth

One of the biggest challenges renewables have faced is storage. Unlike coal or gas, you can’t control when the sun shines or the wind blows. But now, battery technology is catching up fast, solving this critical bottleneck.

  • Battery costs are plummeting: In India, the price of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries has dropped from $450/kWh in 2021 to around $200/kWh in 2024.

  • Capacity is booming: Global grid-scale battery storage is projected to grow tenfold by 2030. In the EU, capacity doubled in just one year to 16 gigawatts.

This means that for every surge in solar and wind, batteries are increasingly ready to catch and release that power when it’s needed — making renewables far more reliable and scalable.

Policy vs. Market Forces: Who’s Driving the Shift?

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Political resistance, especially during the Trump administration, aimed to stall renewable growth through cutbacks in funding, stalled project approvals, and tariffs on imported materials. These actions created headwinds, but they weren’t enough to stop the market.

The passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 gave renewables a significant tailwind with tax credits and incentives. Meanwhile, over 20 U.S. states have mandated clean electricity targets by 2050 or sooner. In traditionally coal-heavy states like Michigan and Louisiana, even utility companies are backing away from coal — not out of ideology, but out of simple economics.

“From that perspective, it’s hard to envision building a coal plant today.”
— Timothy Fox, ClearView Energy Partners

A Glimpse Into the Future

The significance of wind and solar overtaking coal isn’t just symbolic — it’s practical. It shows that clean energy is no longer a hypothetical future or a niche player. It’s here. It’s growing. And it’s competitive.

We’re watching the fossil fuel era slowly give way to a renewable age, where electricity is cleaner, cheaper, and more democratized. While oil and gas still hold sway in transportation and heavy industry, the electric grid — the beating heart of modern life — is now increasingly powered by wind, sun, and storage.

Conclusion

The 2024 milestone is more than a stat — it’s a statement. The U.S. has proven that renewable energy can lead, not just supplement, in a major industrial economy. And with advancing battery tech, supportive policy, and shifting public opinion, the clean energy curve is only getting steeper.

The Age of Electricity isn’t just coming. It’s already here.

FAQs

When did wind and solar surpass coal in U.S. electricity generation?

Wind and solar overtook coal for the first time in 2024, contributing 17% of the nation’s electricity, while coal dropped to 15%.

Why is this milestone significant?

It marks a historic shift in U.S. energy production, signaling that renewable sources are not just supplemental but are becoming dominant in powering the grid.

What are the main reasons for the decline in coal usage?

Several factors include the falling cost of renewables, rapid battery storage advancements, state and federal policies, and a lack of economic viability for new coal plants.

How does battery storage support renewable energy growth?

Batteries allow excess energy from solar and wind to be stored and used later, making renewables more reliable and enabling grid stability even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn’t blowing.

What role did government policy play in this shift?

Laws like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provided tax incentives for clean energy, while over 20 states mandated a transition to 100% clean electricity by 2050 or sooner.

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