Solar Energy Industries Association

Solar panels cover less than 1% of Ohio’s prime farmland, but opposition groups and local officials continue to block or restrict utility-scale solar projects, citing farmland preservation concerns. A 2021 law allows Ohio counties to ban such projects, and similar restrictions exist in other U.S. states.

A study by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) finds solar projects in North Carolina occupy 0.24% of prime farmland, less than suburban development (0.87%) and golf courses (0.28%). Nationally, solar uses 0.04% of U.S. land, with California having the highest overlap at 0.43%. The study refutes claims that solar is displacing agriculture, noting projects prioritize grid proximity over farmland.

Tim Pawlenty, a Republican former governor of Minnesota and current president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, claims the Trump administration is overseeing a 'golden age of solar' despite policy rollbacks. Solar with batteries remains the fastest-growing energy source, but tax credits for large-scale systems will expire by 2024, prompting calls for permitting reform and sustained manufacturing incentives.

Solar power supplied 12.8% of US electricity in May, surpassing coal's 12.2% for the first time. Despite federal policy favoring coal, solar remains the leading source of new power in the US, with data from Ember, Solar Energy Industries Association, and Wood Mackenzie highlighting its growth and coal's decline.

In May, solar power supplied 12.8% of US electricity, surpassing coal's 12.2% for the first time. Reports from Ember, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and Wood Mackenzie highlight solar's growth and coal's decline despite federal policy favoring coal under Donald Trump.

Solar power in the U.S. supplied more electricity than coal for the first time in May, reaching 12.8% of the nation’s electricity, while coal’s share dropped to 12.2%. Despite federal policies under President Trump favoring coal, solar and wind energy continue to grow, with renewables expected to surpass coal globally by 2030.

Solar power in the US surpassed coal in electricity generation for the first time in May 2026, according to reports by Ember, Solar Energy Industries Association, and Wood Mackenzie. Despite federal policies favoring coal under President Trump, solar remains the leading source of new power, with coal's share declining to its fourth-lowest monthly level.

Solar power surpassed coal as the third-largest electricity source in the U.S. in May, supplying 12.8% of the nation’s electricity compared to coal’s 12.2%. Despite Trump’s efforts to boost coal with $700 million in support, solar and wind energy continue to grow, driven by reports from Ember, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and Wood Mackenzie.