At a glance: Tennessee Tennessee is the 15th most populous state in the U.S., with 7,227,750 residents across its 42,120 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 8 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Tennessee has a pro-business climate and a low cost of doing business. Some of the largest industries in Tennessee include healthcare, transportation, music and entertainment, banking, and finance. Energy Tennessee ranks No. 30 among states for most energy production, with its leading production sources being nuclear, noncombustible renewables and wood/waste, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Tennessee ranks No. 22 for most energy consumption. The leading energy sources consumed by Tennesseans is natural gas, motor gasoline and nuclear power. Tennesseans’ residential electricity rate is $0.129/kWh, cheaper than the national average. Commercial electricity rate is also cheaper; Tennessee commercial users pay a rate of $0.118/kWh, compared to the national average commercial rate of $0.1259/kWh. Industrial users pay $0.0623/kWh, below the national average industrial electricity rate of $0.0804/kWh. Tennesseans’ residential natural gas price is $11.68 per thousand cubic feet, below 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 17 percent since 1970, while the state’s population soared 70 percent during the same span. The population is projected to increase another 15.5 percent, to 8,346,845 residents, by 2050. The federal government lists 131 species in Tennessee 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
