Asked why they were continuing some of the plans, a spokesman for the Arizona governor's office said the economic benefits were "too alluring."

According to the National Governors Association , all but Georgia, Montana, Rhode Island and Wyoming have passed at least one clean energy policy since 2008. And according to a Congressional Research Service report, the U.S. has some 420 wind component manufacturing facilities in 43 states.

To capture the green funding, states are offering manufacturing tax breaks, grants for clean tech start-ups and worker training programs. States themselves can act as a private entity because up to 30 percent of a state's clean energy funding from the federal government can be used for private activity.

The clear winner in the race is California. With its tech-based economy, the Golden State drew more than $3.8 billion in venture capital in 2011. That's up from $2.9 billion in 2010, according to the Cleantech Group. Next was Massachusetts with $542 million in venture capital, up from $426 million the year before.

The states with the best chances are those with energy policies, says Tony Clifford, CEO of Standard Solar , a developer and installer of solar systems in six mid-Atlantic states.

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