Solar power is projected to generate more electricity than coal for the first time in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market this year. The shift comes as developers add solar capacity rapidly while no new coal plants are built. Federal projections show solar output reaching 78 billion kilowatt-hours in 2026 compared to 60 billion from coal.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, manages the state's competitive power market. Solar output already surpassed coal on a monthly basis last year from March through August. This year it is expected to lead from March through December, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration at the Department of Energy.