Look at California, which is one-eighth of the U.S. population with 39 million people and one-seventh of the nation's gross domestic product of $2.3 trillion.
California is the chief reason America is the only developed economy to achieve record GDP growth since the financial crisis of 2008 and ensuing global recession, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Much of the U.S. growth can be traced to California laws promoting clean energy, government accountability and protections for undocumented people.
No state or country has created as many laws discouraging fossil fuels and carbon while promoting clean energy.
California is home to 20 of the 130 companies in North America and South America that meet the standard classification of clean energy.
Jobs at clean energy companies in California increased 14 percent last year, double the average rate for the industry.
Technology driving the clean energy boom is the reason California companies lead most of their peers in U.S. »