At a glance: Kentucky Kentucky is the 26th most populous state in the U.S., with 4,526,154 residents across its 40,400 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 27 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Kentucky is known for its manufacturing, agriculture, coal mining, and logistics. The state has a diversified economy that includes auto manufacturing, energy production, and medicine Energy Kentucky ranks No. 15 among states for most energy production, with its leading production sources being coal, natural gas, and wood/waste, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Kentucky ranks No. 14 for most energy consumption. The leading energy sources consumed by Kentuckians is natural gas, motor gasoline, and coal. Kentucky’s residential electricity rate is $0.125/kWh, cheaper than the national average. Commercial electricity rate is also cheaper; commercial users pay a rate of $0.1138/kWh, compared to the national average commercial rate of $0.1259/kWh. Industrial users pay $0.0655/kWh, below the national average industrial electricity rate of $0.0804/kWh. Kentuckians’ residential natural gas price is $15.50 per thousand cubic feet, above 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 27 percent since 1970, while the state’s population soared 41 percent during the same span. The population is projected to increase another 5.7 percent, to 4.78 million residents, by 2050. The federal government lists 52 species in Kentucky as threatened or endangered. SUGGESTED STORIES At a glance: Texas Texas is the second most populous state in the U.S., with 30,503,301 residents spanning its 268,596 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 3 in business in 2024 by CNBC. Known as the energy capital of the country, Texas leads in oil, natural gas, and wind po Read more At a glance: Virginia Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the U.S., with 8,715,698 residents across its 39,500 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 1 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Virginia is home to the third-busiest port on the East Coast, and its biggest economic ind Read more At a glance: Colorado Colorado is the 21st most populous state in the U.S., with 5,877,610 residents across its 104,094 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 16 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Colorado is a key player in the energy sector and is known for its outdoor recreation in Read more
At a glance: Texas Texas is the second most populous state in the U.S., with 30,503,301 residents spanning its 268,596 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 3 in business in 2024 by CNBC. Known as the energy capital of the country, Texas leads in oil, natural gas, and wind po Read more
At a glance: Virginia Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the U.S., with 8,715,698 residents across its 39,500 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 1 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Virginia is home to the third-busiest port on the East Coast, and its biggest economic ind Read more
At a glance: Colorado Colorado is the 21st most populous state in the U.S., with 5,877,610 residents across its 104,094 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 16 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Colorado is a key player in the energy sector and is known for its outdoor recreation in Read more
