Fossil fuels fall below 50% of US electricity for the first month on record

Record-high solar and wind bring the US to a clean power tipping point

Washington DC, April 4th – The US hit a new record low for fossil fuels in the electricity mix last month as solar and wind reached a record high, according to new data from global energy think tank Ember. In March 2025, fossil fuels accounted for less than 50% (49.2%) of electricity generated, for the first month on record. This surpasses the previous monthly record low of 51% set in April 2024.

"This clearly demonstrates the growing role of wind and solar in the US energy system," said Nicolas Fulghum, senior analyst at global energy think tank Ember. "This is a first signal that the US is approaching a tipping point where clean power takes the lead over fossil generation, and where the importance of coal and gas inevitably starts to fade."

The shift meant that clean sources generated more than half (50.8%) of US electricity for the first month on record. The record was driven largely by an increase in wind and solar power, which reached a record 24.4% of US electricity in March 2025. 

In March 2025, US solar power increased a staggering 37% (+8.3 TWh) compared to March 2024. Wind power increased by 12% (+5.7 TWh). Together wind and solar reached an all-time high, generating 83 TWh of US electricity, 11% higher than the previous record of 75 TWh set in April 2024. In comparison, fossil generation fell by 2.5% (-4.3 TWh) compared to March 2024