Mmastodon EnvironmentEnergy first seen 8 h ago, last 5 h ago, peak #1

US utility-scale solar output surges as coal declines

Original: When a falling cost curve meets a rising demand curve, adoption accelerates. Over the first five months of 2026, utility

Utility-scale solar generation rose 21.6% in the first five months of 2026 compared with a year earlier, while coal generation fell 10.9%. Commenters attribute the shift to Swanson's Law, which holds that solar costs drop each time installed capacity doubles, arguing that falling costs combined with rising demand are driving rapid adoption and accelerating coal's decline.

Why now: New generation data showing solar displacing coal illustrates the widely discussed cost-driven acceleration of the energy transition.

utility-scale solarcoal powerSwanson's Law

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Evidence

• When a falling cost curve meets a rising demand curve, adoption accelerates. Over the first five months of 2026, utility-scale solar output rose 21.6% from a year earlier, while coal generation dropped 10.9% Swanson’s Law: Each time the world’s installed solar capacity doubles,… · Zygos · 69

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