Utah Gets More Power From Solar Than Any Other Source

Utah just made clean energy history, and the sky has never looked brighter.

Solar panels across the state generated nearly a third of Utah's electricity in May, outpacing coal, natural gas, and every other power source for the first time ever. The milestone caps a remarkable transformation for a state that relied on coal for up to 78 percent of its electricity just nine years ago.

"The trend of more and more solar in Utah is wonderful news for air quality, it's wonderful news for the climate, and it's wonderful news for jobs and the economy," said Dan Schroeder, a physics professor at Weber State University who tracks energy data.

Several massive solar farms have sparked the transformation. The 2,500-acre Green River Energy Center became operational this spring, providing 400 megawatts of solar generation plus 400 megawatts of battery storage. The Faraday Solar project in Utah County started powering a Meta data center last fall with up to 685 megawatts of clean energy.

The solar boom is reshaping Utah's economy in powerful ways. The industry now supports nearly 8,000 jobs across 132 solar companies in the state. Investors poured $1.5 billion into Utah's solar market in 2025 alone.

By comparison, oil and gas extraction employed just 1,291 people in Utah last year. Coal mining accounted for 1,059 jobs in the most recent data available.

The Ripple Effect

The clean energy surge extends beyond Utah's borders. Wind power recently swept past all other sources in the regional grid serving Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho for the first time this winter. The two renewable sources work together beautifully, with wind generating peak power in winter months while solar shines brightest in summer.

"Wind plus solar is on a tear right now," said Logan Mitchell, a climate scientist with Utah Clean Energy. "We may have achieved liftoff."

The benefits reach wallets and lungs alike. Unlike fossil fuels subject to global price swings, wind and solar produce cheap, stable energy with zero fuel costs. And unlike coal and natural gas plants, they create zero air pollution.

Utah still has room to grow its solar share. California saw solar generate 51 percent of its electricity in May, showing what's possible in sunny Western states. About 51 percent of new power plants added nationwide this year will be solar, according to federal data.

The momentum feels unstoppable as clean energy proves itself cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable than the fossil fuels it's replacing.