For the first time, wind and solar produced more electricity than coal nationwide. Illinois just became the 24th state to make the crossover since the peak of US coal power in 2007.

In 2024, wind and solar hit a record 17% of US electricity, surpassing coal, which dropped to an all time low of 15%. The surge of renewables and gas has driven coal’s rapid decline since its peak in 2007. Since then, wind and solar have overtaken coal in 24 states with half making the shift in just the last six years.

Last year marked a major milestone for US electricity generation. For the first time ever, wind and solar combined produced more electricity than coal.

In 2024, wind and solar produced a record 17% (757 TWh) of US electricity, marking a 15% (+97 TWh) increase from 2023 – enough to power 9.2 million additional homes. Meanwhile, coal generation decreased to its lowest level ever, making up just 15% of US electricity. 

Coal’s decline has been swift. Since its peak in 2007, coal generation has fallen by over two-thirds (-68%), displaced by gas, wind and solar. Gas generation more than doubled, increasing by 968 TWh. Wind and solar expanded twentyfold, together adding 722 TWh. In comparison, coal declined by 1,364 TWh.

The shift has been particularly fast in recent years. Just six years ago, in 2018, coal was three times larger than the combined total of wind and solar. Since then, coal has fallen by 43%, while the combined generation of wind and solar has doubled.

Since coal’s nationwide peak in 2007, wind and solar have surpassed it in 24 states – and the pace is accelerating. Half made the switch in just the last six years, with Illinois the latest to cross over in 2024, following Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Maryland in 2023.

In many of these 24 states, the rise of wind and solar has been substantial — 12 now generate over a quarter of their electricity from them. In Kansas, Iowa, New Mexico, South Dakota and Colorado, wind and solar combined have become the state’s largest source of generation. 

Meanwhile, 8 of the 24 states have a wind and solar share below 10% in their electricity mix, with gas playing a key role in their transition away from coal. In Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida, coal generation declined mainly due to a shift from coal to gas. As a result, even a small rise in wind and solar was sufficient to surpass coal generation.

The shift away from coal has been primarily driven by market dynamics and availability of more cost-effective resources. The unit costs of wind and solar have reduced significantly and their quick installation makes them commercially attractive. In states like Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota, strong wind potential made wind the cheapest form of generation. In states like Texas and Florida, cheap gas also played a role.

Some states have taken a more aggressive policy-driven approach to phase out coal. Both Illinois’ 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and New Mexico’s 2019 Energy Transition Act directly mandated the retirement of coal power plants.

Renewable and clean energy policies have also expanded rapidly, with many states – such as Vermont, Minnesota and Oregon – introducing Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) or clean energy targets, particularly in the last five years, which alongside incentives and tax credits, have supported rapid wind and solar growth. 

The shift from coal to wind and solar has delivered cleaner electricity across most US states, even in those where wind and solar have not yet surpassed coal. The biggest reductions in carbon intensity have happened in states where wind and solar have replaced coal, rather than where coal has mostly been swapped for gas. But while this transition has made electricity cleaner, gas generation continues to rise, meeting growing electricity demand and slowing overall emissions reductions, as explored in Insight 4.