Utah achieved a historic milestone when solar power generation surpassed all other electricity sources in May 2026. According to data from Ember, a global energy research organization, photovoltaic panels produced nearly one terawatt hour that month, representing approximately 31 percent of the state’s total electricity generation. Natural gas accounted for 32 percent, coal for 28 percent, and wind for 2 percent of generation during the same period.
The growth in solar capacity reflects recent investment in large-scale projects across the state. The Green River Energy Center, a 2,500-acre facility in central Utah, became operational in spring 2026 and provides 400 megawatts of solar generation alongside 400 megawatts of battery storage. Additional projects contributing to the surge include the Faraday Solar project in Utah County, which began supplying 685 megawatts to a Meta data center in fall 2025, and the Elektron Solar Project, which started delivering 80 megawatts of power to the Salt Lake City region in June 2024.
The solar sector has emerged as a significant employment driver in Utah. Approximately 8,000 jobs are supported by the solar industry, with 132 solar companies operating statewide. In 2025, investors committed $1.5 billion to Utah’s solar market. By comparison, oil and gas extraction and coal mining combined employed fewer than 2,500 workers in recent years.
Utah’s energy portfolio has shifted dramatically from its earlier reliance on coal. In 2017, coal provided between 64 and 78 percent of the state’s monthly electricity generation. By 2023, coal’s share had declined to less than half in certain months, and this spring it fell below 30 percent. Energy experts note that Utah’s sunny, dry climate provides substantial room for continued solar expansion, with California demonstrating that higher penetration rates are achievable.
Wind power has also contributed to renewable energy growth in the region. Wind energy surpassed all other sources in PacifiCorp’s portfolio serving Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho during December and January for the first time. However, recent policy shifts have affected expansion plans, with PacifiCorp announcing it will not pursue new wind and solar projects over the next two decades under its current resource plan, citing financial considerations tied to federal policy changes.
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