Solar energy production overtakes coal despite regulation changes: Report

Published June 11, 2026 12:01pm ET



The sun now generates more electricity for U.S. consumers than coal, despite President Donald Trump’s penchant for carbon-heavy power.

Solar power rose to become the third largest electricity source in the U.S. last month, according to a Wednesday report from energy think tank Ember. Ember’s updated statistics come days after Trump invoked the Defense Production Act and other tools to provide $700 million to support the coal industry, all in an effort to reduce energy prices spiked by the war in Iran.

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