Renewable energy has generated more power than natural gas in the US for the first time in history

Published on Apr 21, 2026 at 9:30 PM (UTC-4)
by Author Daisy Edwards
Last updated on May 22, 2026 at 4:21 AM (UTC-4) · Edited by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Renewable energy has generated more power than natural gas in the US for the first time in history
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Creating clean energy is something that the US has strived for for years, and for the first time in history, renewable energy has generated more power than natural gas in the US.

For years, natural gas has dominated the country’s electricity mix, acting as the go-to source of power.

But a rapid rise in solar and wind energy is beginning to flip that balance in a big way.

And while this milestone only happened over a single month, it could be a sign of what’s coming next.

Renewable energy has generated more power than natural gas

In March 2026, renewable sources, including wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass, generated more electricity in the United States than natural gas for the first time when powering houses, cars and even tech.

According to the Yale Environment 360 report, the shift was driven largely by a continued boom in wind and solar installations across the country.

The data, based on analysis from energy think tank Ember, showed that renewables didn’t just close the gap; they actually became the single largest source of electricity during that period.

When nuclear power is added into the mix, clean energy sources made up more than half of total US electricity generation for the month.

That’s a major milestone for a country that has historically relied heavily on fossil fuels to keep the lights on.

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Fossil fuels aren’t gone yet

Despite the breakthrough, this doesn’t mean natural gas is out of the picture just yet.

Electricity demand in the US is continuing to rise, which means fossil fuels are still playing a key role in meeting that demand, especially during periods when renewable output drops.

Coal plants are also sticking around longer than expected in some areas, helping to fill gaps in the energy supply.

Another factor is the variability of renewable energy, since wind and solar depend on weather conditions and time of day, unlike natural gas which can provide steady, on-demand power.

Still, this moment is being seen as a glimpse into a cleaner energy future.

If renewable growth continues at its current pace, this one-off milestone could soon become a regular occurrence.