At a glance: California California is the most populous state in the U.S., with 39,431,263 residents across its 155,858 square miles according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 23 for business in 2024 by CNBC. California is home to key economic industries, including finance, manufacturing, business services and tourism. Energy California ranks 12th for energy production, with oil, nuclear and natural gas the main products, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The state ranks 49th for energy consumption, with natural gas, ethanol and distillate oil the main sources. California’s residential electricity rate is $0.316/kWh, significantly more than the national average of $0.16/kWh. Commercial users pay $0.239, above the national average of $0.126. Industrial users pay $0.186/kWh, above the national average industrial rate of $0.0804/kWh. Residential natural gas prices average $21.85 per thousand cubic feet, 48% higher than the national average of $14.75, according to the most recently available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment Annual carbon emissions increased by 10.7% since 1970, as the state’s population nearly doubled, going from 19.9 million to 39 million. California’s population is projected to increase by an additional 8% percent, reaching 42.5 million residents by 2050. About 52.1 percent of California’s land is public land, with the majority of that owned by the federal government. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists 292 species in California as threatened or endangered. SUGGESTED STORIES At a glance: Vermont Vermont is the 49th most populous state in the U.S., with 647,464 residents across its 9,217 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 37 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Vermont’s key industries include agriculture, specialty foods, tourism, manufacturing, and te Read more DOJ targets California’s truck emission rules The U.S. Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against the California Air Resources Board (CARB), seeking to block the enforcement of the state’s stringent truck emission standards. These rules, implemented through a “Clean Truck Partnership” Read more At a glance: Arizona Arizona is the 14th most populous state in the U.S., with 7,582,384 residents across its 113,653 square miles according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 12 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Arizona is home to key economic industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, defense, a Read more
At a glance: Vermont Vermont is the 49th most populous state in the U.S., with 647,464 residents across its 9,217 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 37 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Vermont’s key industries include agriculture, specialty foods, tourism, manufacturing, and te Read more
DOJ targets California’s truck emission rules The U.S. Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against the California Air Resources Board (CARB), seeking to block the enforcement of the state’s stringent truck emission standards. These rules, implemented through a “Clean Truck Partnership” Read more
At a glance: Arizona Arizona is the 14th most populous state in the U.S., with 7,582,384 residents across its 113,653 square miles according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 12 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Arizona is home to key economic industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, defense, a Read more
