Move Over, Coal: Wind and Solar Coming Through

The most recent reports show that wind and solar generated more power than coal in the United States in the first half of 2023.

Between January and June 2023, wind and solar produced 343 terawatt-hours (TWh) of power, whereas coal produced 296 TWh. Only five years ago, coal power generation alone was four times that of wind and solar combined.

Renewable energy options such as wind and solar have plummeted in cost in recent years, allowing the United States to transition to green energy sources at a faster pace than previous models predicted. Overall, electricity generation accounts for one-fourth of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions with coal being the dirtiest of all sources. The first half of 2023 certainly looks promising, but for the country to reach its goal of fully decarbonizing its power grid by 2035, wind and solar will need to replace not only coal but also fossil fuels.