Wind and Solar Energy Overtake Coal

Washington, DC –New federal data shows that wind and solar energy – due to coal plant retirements and the growth of renewable energy – generated more power this year so far than coal. The US is on track for wind and solar to outpace coal for the entire calendar year of 2024, including the hot summer months (when coal generation usually picks up). Link: New federal data

Since its founding in 2009, the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign has helped secure the retirements of 385 coal plants in the United States, resulting in more than 54,000 lives saved, 84,000 heart attacks prevented, 892,000 asthma attacks prevented, and $25 billion in health care costs saved.
In response, Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“Wind and solar energy has long been the most cost effective choice for utilities, but now it has also outpaced coal generation as the top source of energy, further demonstrating that clean energy is critical to a reliable and affordable grid. This historic milestone marks a significant win for clean energy advocates, for ratepayers, and for people and communities across the country that simply want to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and worry less about climate disasters like floods and wildfires.

“For decades, the Sierra Club has fought to move America Beyond Coal and onto a clean, reliable, and affordable grid. To date, the Beyond Coal campaign has secured the retirement of 385 coal plants and counting, and on August 16, we celebrate the two year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, which made historic investments in clean energy and clean energy jobs. Together, families across the country are saving money, enjoying good paying jobs, breathing clean air, and drinking safe water.”

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.