U.S. Energy Information Administration

Built World

Source of the power plant and generation data

Almost every new power plant that switched on in the United States this year runs on sunlight or stores it. An Inside Climate News review of federal data found that large-scale solar and batteries made up roughly 91% of new grid capacity added in the first part of 2026.

Updated Aug 13

Built World

Primary source of U.S. electricity generation data

For most of modern American history, coal generated the majority of the nation's electricity — roughly half of every kilowatt-hour consumed from the 1950s through the 2000s. In 2022, renewable sources surpassed coal-fired generation on an annual basis for the first time. By 2023, renewables produced about 22% of U.S. electricity while coal had fallen to 16%, a gap that is accelerating year over year.

Updated May 31

Money Moves

Primary source of current price forecasts

Brent crude averaged $80 per barrel in 2024. The U.S. Energy Information Administration now forecasts it will fall to $58 in 2026 and $53 in 2027—a decline of more than one-third in three years. The reason: global oil production is growing faster than demand, and inventories are piling up at a rate not seen since the pandemic.

Updated May 27

Built World

Issued the May 2026 forecast

Coal has powered Texas for most of the past century. In 2026, for the first time on record, utility-scale solar is forecast to outproduce it for the full year in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Updated May 14