In May 2026, US solar power generation exceeded coal for the first time in a full month — a verified milestone confirmed by multiple energy outlets. This marks a major inflection point in America's energy transition away from fossil fuels, reflecting both declining coal capacity and solar's rapid expansion over the past decade. What's less discussed: solar's land footprint has grown to 8.74 million acres, raising questions about the tradeoff between clean energy scaling and agricultural land use that will shape future deployment decisions.