Overview

• U.S. electricity use rose about 3% year over year in the first half of 2025 after an early-year pace near 5%, according to new EIA data.
• Utility-scale solar generation jumped nearly 40% year over year and is on track to outproduce hydropower in 2025.
• Coal output remained higher than a year ago but its growth eased to just under 17%, down from roughly 20% earlier in the year.
• Natural gas supplied 39% of generation in H1 2025, followed by nuclear at 18% and coal at 17%, with wind at 12%, solar at 7%, and hydro at 6% for a 25% renewables share.
• In absolute terms, solar’s roughly 40 TWh increase nearly offset coal’s about 50 TWh rise as natural gas generation fell by around 32 TWh, and most remaining 2025 additions are expected to be solar and batteries.