Renewables Provide More Than 30% of US Electricity

New federal data show renewable energy sources supplied more than 30% of U.S. electricity in the first five months of 2026, up from 28.2% a year earlier. Solar led the growth: large solar farms produced 21.6% more power than the year before, and small rooftop-scale solar systems (under 1 megawatt) grew 12.8%. Wind and hydropower also grew, while coal generation fell nearly 11% and nuclear and natural gas grew only slightly. Combined, wind and solar produced more electricity than either coal or nuclear plants during this stretch, and in May alone, solar output topped both coal and wind.

Looking ahead, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects solar, wind, and battery storage to keep expanding fast, adding roughly 83,000 megawatts of new capacity by spring 2027, while fossil fuel and nuclear capacity shrinks slightly. Battery storage, which helps store solar and wind power for use when the sun isn't shining or wind isn't blowing, is projected to grow nearly 48% over the same period. Rooftop solar's capacity is also expected to keep climbing, and researchers project that combined renewable capacity could surpass natural gas capacity by around June 2027.

None of this changes any specific rebate or incentive available to homeowners right now, but it does show the broader shift underway in how the country's electricity is generated. If you're weighing a solar or battery storage upgrade for your own home, this trend suggests the technology and market around it continue to grow quickly, with more capacity coming online each year.