Is clean energy actually replacing coal — or just piling on top?

Both patterns can happen at once. Wind and solar can take a larger share of generation while total electricity demand grows fast enough that coal or gas output stays flat—or even rises in some regions. To judge a transition, look beyond new capacity: compare actual annual generation, fossil-plant retirements, emissions per kilowatt-hour, storage and grid build-out, and whether rising demand is being met with clean power.