Solar grows, coal shrinks

June 11, 2026: Solar generates more energy in US than coal for first time. “Data released on Wednesday by the global energy thinktank Ember, along with a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (Seia) and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie, show the continued growth of solar and decline of coal in the United States despite federal policy. In May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation’s electricity than coal, or 12.8%, Ember said. Coal supplied 12.2%, its fourth-lowest monthly share ever.” I’d buy that for a dollar.

Green energy collage
Of course, other countries are ahead of us. Germany has, on occasion, supplied all of its electrical demand using renewables, at least as far back as May 17, 2016 (“If only for a brief while, the country was almost entirely powered by solar and wind–and the grid didn’t collapse”).

Meanwhile, I’d still love to have something like the GoSun EV Solar Charger for truly off-grid capability. With everything I tote these days being easily recharged via DC (almost(?) entirely via USB C PD, even), and even with “just” the 67W (or 45W with other devices sipping 9W) Anker 535 pulling from the car, I could Get Things Done from just about anywhere, indefinitely, with enough food and water. (Especially with a portable solar rig to augment, like the Renogy stuff I’ve been playing with.) Makes, e.g., a week in a fire watch cabin all the more doable. (RIP McCarthy Point Lookout.)

Especially when renewables are used, EVs really are the clear environmental choice:

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