States with strong records on protecting the environment also offer good job opportunities and climates for economic development, according to a new study by the Institute for Southern Studies. States getting high marks for both economic and environmental health include Vermont, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland, Maine, and Wisconsin. Many states in the South were ranked low by both measures, including Louisiana, which is 48th in economic performance and 50th on the environment, and Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee. The study suggests that environmental regulation, rather than stifling economic growth, may actually promote it. Chris Kromm, director of the institute and co-author of the report, said that “states seeking quick-fix, unsustainable development end up sacrificing both workers and the environment.”
