Solar, hydro power displace US coal generation

US electricity generation in early 2026 shows a return to pre-2025 trends, with renewables increasingly pushing coal off the grid. Despite initial fears of data center demand surges, overall demand growth slowed to 1.5 percent. Solar power led the charge, increasing by 24 percent and offsetting most of the demand rise. Hydroelectric production also surged unexpectedly by 22 percent, likely due to warm weather and early snowmelt in the western US, though this may impact summer and fall output. Combined renewable growth significantly outpaced demand, leading to a 3 percent drop in fossil fuel use, with coal bearing the brunt of the decline.