AI illustration: Solar a plurality of US power within 20 years (2013)
Pending

Solar a plurality of US power within 20 years (2013)

“I'm extremely confident that solar will be at least a plurality of power, and most likely a majority, and I predict it will be a plurality in less than 20 years.”
Video: TED 2013 — 'The mind behind Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity' (Chris Anderson interview)
▶ WATCH HIM SAY IT @ 11:17 — TED 2013 — 'THE MIND BEHIND TESLA, SPACEX, SOLARCITY' (CHRIS ANDERSON INTERVIEW)
What actually happened

Fetched Sep 9 2026: EIA Energy Explained (2025 preliminary) puts natural gas at about 41% of U.S. utility-scale generation and utility-scale solar at about 6.7% (plus ~93 TWh small-scale solar). Natural gas remains the plurality. Choose Energy's June 2026 EIA-based snapshot puts solar at ~12.1% of that month's generation — still well behind gas. Deadline Feb 27 2033. Status stays pending. EIA Energy Explained (fetched Sep 9 2026): 2025 utility-scale solar ~6.7%; natural gas still plurality ↗

The Progression

Feb 27, 2013
The promise: “I'm extremely confident that solar will be at least a plurality of power, and most likely a majority, and I predict it will be a plurality in less than 20 years.” · TED 2013 — 'The mind behind Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity' (Chris Anderson interview) 11:17 ↗
Today · Sep 10, 2026
Status: Pending · 2,362 days left. Still waiting.

At the TED 2013 conference, while chairman of SolarCity, Musk told Chris Anderson he had bet that solar would become the single largest source of US electricity within about 18-20 years. Solar generation has grown rapidly since, but supplied roughly 7% of US electricity by the mid-2020s, while natural gas remained the largest source. The 20-year window runs to early 2033.

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Receipts

LAST CHECKED 2026-09-09

Tesla’s record

Delivered
47
59% of resolved claims delivered.
Missed
32
Deadline passed, still no-show.
Still open
31
On the clock now. All 110 Tesla claims →

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