Coal's Decline as U.S. Power Source: Solar Surpasses Coal
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 27 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Decline of Coal Usage: Coal's share in U.S. electricity supply has dropped from 19.7% five years ago to 12.2%, indicating a significant shift towards cleaner energy sources like natural gas and solar, which may influence future energy policies and investment strategies.
- Solar Surpassing Coal: In May 2023, solar power accounted for 12.8% of the U.S. grid for the first time, up from just 5.4% five years ago, marking a pivotal moment for renewable energy that could attract more investor interest in the clean energy sector.
- NextEra Energy Acquisition: NextEra Energy's agreement to acquire Dominion Energy is expected to enhance its market share in renewable energy and offers a 2.8% dividend yield, appealing to conservative investors looking for stable income growth potential.
- Brookfield Renewable Partners' Edge: Brookfield Renewable Partners boasts a diversified portfolio of clean energy assets with a 4.4% dividend yield, and its distributions have consistently increased over the past decade, making it an attractive option for investors seeking exposure to the entire clean energy sector through a single investment.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy NEE?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on NEE
Wall Street analysts forecast NEE stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 86.370
Low
84.00
Averages
92.50
High
100.00
Current: 86.370
Low
84.00
Averages
92.50
High
100.00
About NEE
NextEra Energy, Inc. is an electric power and energy infrastructure company. It operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and NextEra Energy Transmission, LLC (collectively, NEER) and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL). Its segments include NEER and FPL. FPL segment is a rate-regulated electric utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Florida. FPL has approximately 35,052 megawatts of net generating capacity, over 91,000 circuit miles of transmission and distribution lines and 921 substations. The NEER segment owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets in the United States and Canada and includes assets and investments in other businesses with a clean energy focus, such as battery storage, natural gas pipelines, and renewable fuels. It owns, develops, constructs and operates rate-regulated transmission facilities in North America.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Surge in Electricity Demand Driven by AI Investments
- Electricity Demand Surge: Electricity demand is projected to grow by 60% from 2025 to 2045, primarily driven by artificial intelligence and data centers, prompting utility companies to ramp up investments to meet this demand, thereby catalyzing industry growth.
- Investor Considerations: As regulated utilities must pass on spending through rate increases, regulatory approval becomes crucial, especially amid high inflation and rising electricity costs, which could pressure utility profitability if costs cannot be fully transferred.
- Bloom Energy Opportunity: Bloom Energy's hydrogen fuel cells have a backlog of $6 billion at the start of 2026, up 2.5 times year-over-year, indicating strong demand in the AI data center market, although its price-to-sales ratio of 29x suggests that market expectations for future success are already reflected in its stock price.
- Renewable Energy Investment: Brookfield Renewable Partners boasts a diversified portfolio of renewable assets and is expected to benefit from AI demand, offering a distribution yield of 4.5% with plans for annual growth of 5% to 9%, providing investors with a stable income stream.
See More
AI Demand Fuels $240 Billion Utility Investment Surge
- Surging Power Demand: Utilities are projected to spend up to $240 billion by 2026 to meet AI-driven electricity demand, which will likely lead to increased power prices and impact industry profitability.
- Investor Considerations: With electricity demand growing by 10% from 2005 to 2025 and expected to rise by 60% from 2025 to 2045, utility companies must ramp up capital investments to meet this escalating demand.
- Company Options: Bloom Energy's hydrogen fuel cells have a $6 billion backlog at the start of 2026, up 2.5 times year-over-year, indicating strong potential for powering AI data centers, while Brookfield Renewable Partners attracts dividend-seeking investors with a 4.5% distribution yield.
- Market Outlook: NextEra Energy's proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy, which operates in one of the world's largest data center markets, is expected to drive annual earnings growth of about 9% post-acquisition, further solidifying its leadership in renewable energy.
See More
Rising Medicare Costs and Investment Strategies
- Rising Medicare Costs: The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B in 2026 is set at $202.90, reflecting a $17.90 increase from 2025, leading to an annual cost nearing $5,000, which continues to exert financial pressure on retirees.
- Investment Requirement Analysis: To cover the annual $5,000 healthcare bill, investors need approximately $143,000 in capital at a 3.5% yield or about $100,000 at a 5% yield, highlighting the urgent need for stable income sources in retirement planning.
- Yield Comparison: An investment portfolio yielding 3.5% can grow a $5,000 income stream to $19,300 over 20 years, while a 10% yield portfolio remains flat at $5,000, underscoring the significance of long-term investment and compounding returns.
- Retirement Income Planning: Retirees should focus on breaking down healthcare costs, ensuring coverage for Medicare expenses first before addressing other expenditures, thereby optimizing financial management and alleviating economic burdens.
See More
Senator Opposes NextEra's $67B Dominion Acquisition
- Opposition to Acquisition: Senator Angus King stated in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that NextEra Energy's proposed $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy should be rejected, citing concerns over excessive power consolidation affecting over 10 million people.
- Competition Concerns: King highlighted that the merged entity would create the world's largest regulated electric utility by market capitalization, potentially stifling competition and allowing a single firm to exert significant influence across generation and transmission sectors.
- Impact on Clean Energy: The senator expressed worries that NextEra's lobbying efforts in New England have already harmed clean energy competition, alongside other business practices that could lead to increased prices for consumers.
- Regulatory Challenges Ahead: The opposition to this acquisition could pose significant challenges for NextEra's future growth, particularly in a climate where energy market competition and consumer protection are under heightened scrutiny.
See More
Senator Urges Rejection of NextEra's Dominion Acquisition
- Acquisition Controversy: U.S. Senator Angus King is urging the rejection of NextEra's proposed $66.8 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy, arguing that the deal would concentrate too much power and potentially impact over 10 million people.
- Competition Concerns: King highlighted that the merged entity would possess 110 gigawatts of electric-generating capacity, which could deter competition and affect market fairness, particularly in regions with high concentrations of data centers.
- Rising Energy Demand: The past few years have seen a surge in electricity demand, driven by the electrification of industries like transportation and the expansion of energy-intensive data centers, leading to several large power mergers, including NextEra's acquisition plan.
- Clean Energy Competition: King noted that NextEra has already stifled clean energy competition through lobbying efforts in New England, raising concerns that this could ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers and further scrutiny of the company's business practices.
See More
Investment Outlook for NextEra and Vistra
- NextEra Growth: NextEra Energy's $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy is expected to increase its customer base to over 10 million and generation capacity to 110 GW, enhancing its competitive position amid surging electricity demand.
- Vistra's Market Position: With a generation capacity of 44,000 MW serving approximately 5 million customers, Vistra reported a 12.4% revenue decline to $17 billion in FY 2025, yet still achieved a net income of $944 million, demonstrating resilience in both retail and wholesale markets.
- Risks and Challenges: NextEra faces integration risks and regulatory approval pressures from its $67 billion acquisition, while Vistra must navigate wholesale price volatility and environmental compliance costs, particularly after acquiring Cogentrix, which may attract stricter market scrutiny.
- Investment Choice Analysis: While NextEra has advantages in infrastructure development, Vistra is viewed as a more attractive investment due to its lower debt levels and favorable long-term revenue outlook following significant power purchase agreements with major tech companies.
See More
Surge in Electricity Demand Driven by AI Investments
- Electricity Demand Surge: Electricity demand is projected to grow by 60% from 2025 to 2045, primarily driven by artificial intelligence and data centers, prompting utility companies to ramp up investments to meet this demand, thereby catalyzing industry growth.
- Investor Considerations: As regulated utilities must pass on spending through rate increases, regulatory approval becomes crucial, especially amid high inflation and rising electricity costs, which could pressure utility profitability if costs cannot be fully transferred.
- Bloom Energy Opportunity: Bloom Energy's hydrogen fuel cells have a backlog of $6 billion at the start of 2026, up 2.5 times year-over-year, indicating strong demand in the AI data center market, although its price-to-sales ratio of 29x suggests that market expectations for future success are already reflected in its stock price.
- Renewable Energy Investment: Brookfield Renewable Partners boasts a diversified portfolio of renewable assets and is expected to benefit from AI demand, offering a distribution yield of 4.5% with plans for annual growth of 5% to 9%, providing investors with a stable income stream.
See More
AI Demand Fuels $240 Billion Utility Investment Surge
- Surging Power Demand: Utilities are projected to spend up to $240 billion by 2026 to meet AI-driven electricity demand, which will likely lead to increased power prices and impact industry profitability.
- Investor Considerations: With electricity demand growing by 10% from 2005 to 2025 and expected to rise by 60% from 2025 to 2045, utility companies must ramp up capital investments to meet this escalating demand.
- Company Options: Bloom Energy's hydrogen fuel cells have a $6 billion backlog at the start of 2026, up 2.5 times year-over-year, indicating strong potential for powering AI data centers, while Brookfield Renewable Partners attracts dividend-seeking investors with a 4.5% distribution yield.
- Market Outlook: NextEra Energy's proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy, which operates in one of the world's largest data center markets, is expected to drive annual earnings growth of about 9% post-acquisition, further solidifying its leadership in renewable energy.
See More
Rising Medicare Costs and Investment Strategies
- Rising Medicare Costs: The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B in 2026 is set at $202.90, reflecting a $17.90 increase from 2025, leading to an annual cost nearing $5,000, which continues to exert financial pressure on retirees.
- Investment Requirement Analysis: To cover the annual $5,000 healthcare bill, investors need approximately $143,000 in capital at a 3.5% yield or about $100,000 at a 5% yield, highlighting the urgent need for stable income sources in retirement planning.
- Yield Comparison: An investment portfolio yielding 3.5% can grow a $5,000 income stream to $19,300 over 20 years, while a 10% yield portfolio remains flat at $5,000, underscoring the significance of long-term investment and compounding returns.
- Retirement Income Planning: Retirees should focus on breaking down healthcare costs, ensuring coverage for Medicare expenses first before addressing other expenditures, thereby optimizing financial management and alleviating economic burdens.
See More
Senator Opposes NextEra's $67B Dominion Acquisition
- Opposition to Acquisition: Senator Angus King stated in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that NextEra Energy's proposed $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy should be rejected, citing concerns over excessive power consolidation affecting over 10 million people.
- Competition Concerns: King highlighted that the merged entity would create the world's largest regulated electric utility by market capitalization, potentially stifling competition and allowing a single firm to exert significant influence across generation and transmission sectors.
- Impact on Clean Energy: The senator expressed worries that NextEra's lobbying efforts in New England have already harmed clean energy competition, alongside other business practices that could lead to increased prices for consumers.
- Regulatory Challenges Ahead: The opposition to this acquisition could pose significant challenges for NextEra's future growth, particularly in a climate where energy market competition and consumer protection are under heightened scrutiny.
See More
Senator Urges Rejection of NextEra's Dominion Acquisition
- Acquisition Controversy: U.S. Senator Angus King is urging the rejection of NextEra's proposed $66.8 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy, arguing that the deal would concentrate too much power and potentially impact over 10 million people.
- Competition Concerns: King highlighted that the merged entity would possess 110 gigawatts of electric-generating capacity, which could deter competition and affect market fairness, particularly in regions with high concentrations of data centers.
- Rising Energy Demand: The past few years have seen a surge in electricity demand, driven by the electrification of industries like transportation and the expansion of energy-intensive data centers, leading to several large power mergers, including NextEra's acquisition plan.
- Clean Energy Competition: King noted that NextEra has already stifled clean energy competition through lobbying efforts in New England, raising concerns that this could ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers and further scrutiny of the company's business practices.
See More
Investment Outlook for NextEra and Vistra
- NextEra Growth: NextEra Energy's $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy is expected to increase its customer base to over 10 million and generation capacity to 110 GW, enhancing its competitive position amid surging electricity demand.
- Vistra's Market Position: With a generation capacity of 44,000 MW serving approximately 5 million customers, Vistra reported a 12.4% revenue decline to $17 billion in FY 2025, yet still achieved a net income of $944 million, demonstrating resilience in both retail and wholesale markets.
- Risks and Challenges: NextEra faces integration risks and regulatory approval pressures from its $67 billion acquisition, while Vistra must navigate wholesale price volatility and environmental compliance costs, particularly after acquiring Cogentrix, which may attract stricter market scrutiny.
- Investment Choice Analysis: While NextEra has advantages in infrastructure development, Vistra is viewed as a more attractive investment due to its lower debt levels and favorable long-term revenue outlook following significant power purchase agreements with major tech companies.
See More
