The states were ranked by Clean Edge, a research firm based in San Francisco and Portland. Criteria included: renewable energy generation, the number of alternative fuel vehicles on the road, “green” buildings, smart-meters and clean energy jobs, among other factors. 

From the Christian Science Monitor: 

Hawaii‘s sunny, mild climate gives it a leg up over many states. Home to the nation’s highest electricity rates, the state has proved to be a magnet for smart-meter installers and other energy efficiency companies. That push for consumption reduction means Hawaii has the second-lowest electricity use per capita behind California.

Clean-tech job growth has been rising steadily over the past 10 years, according to state data. Also, 26 percent of construction expenditure in Hawaii in 2012 was solar-related. Hawaii’s solar-energy capacity jumped 150 percent in 2011, making it No. 11 among the 50 states in terms of solar capacity, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

Check out the full list here.

(Photo: Better Place)

— Sophie Cocke