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WASHINGTON–The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) today released a series of reports analyzing emerging "green" economies in each state. The in-depth profiles of each state are available on the NGA Center Web site.

States' emerging green economies are diverse and widespread. To varying degrees, the profiles show every state is witnessing growth in at least one green industry segment, and more often than not, this business growth stems from existing strengths in the state.

"Governors across the country have led state efforts to build green businesses, develop green jobs and enact green policy," said John Thomasian, director of the NGA Center for Best Practices. "These profiles are a valuable tool governors and states can use to analyze their efforts and inform future green initiatives."

Analyzing a state's green economy in terms of the scope of green business activity reveals areas of comparative advantage, promising areas for workforce development and opportunities for building partnerships within and across green industry segments. This information helps states form strategies to grow green economies.

Additionally, the reports show the extent to which each state's business base is poised to meet the coming demand for green technologies and products such as highly efficient appliances, renewable energy generation systems, high-efficiency building materials and low-emission fuels. Each state green profile provides an analysis of the green business activity in the state from 2000-2007 (the latest year data is available) and patent activity from 1994-2008.

The NGA Center commissioned Collaborative Economics Inc. (CEI) to prepare the reports. To view the full methodology, click here .