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Tesla’s biggest windfall has been the cash payments it extracts from rival car makers (and their customers), via its sale of zero-emission credits. A number of states including California require that traditional car makers reach certain production quotas of zero-emission vehicles—or to purchase credits if they cannot. Tesla is a main supplier. Take away the credits and Tesla lost $53 million in the first quarter, or $10,000 per car sold. California’s zero-emission credits provided $67.9 million to the company in the first quarter, and the combination of that state’s credits and federal and local incentives can add up to $45,000 per Tesla sold, according to an analysis by the Los Angeles Times. A Morgan Stanley MS +1.40% report in April said Tesla made $40.5 million on credits in 2012, and that it could collect $250 million in 2013. Tesla acknowledged in a recent SEC filing that emissions credit sales hit $85 million in 2013’s first quarter alone—15% of its revenue, and the only reason it made a profit.

The number of people making new jobless claims across the country dropped by 23,000 to 340,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. California saw a huge increase in new claims.

The number of California homes entering foreclosure plunged in the first quarter, the result of an improving economy, rising home prices and strict new state regulations on lenders.

Company: MattelCA Net Job Gain/Loss: 100Reason: Expand, From Out of StateCity/Region Losing Jobs: New York, NYCity/Region Gaining Jobs: El Segundo, CA

California Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Chamber of Commerce shared some of the same opinions during addresses to the 88th annual Sacramento Host Breakfast Wednesday in Sacramento.

Weather, terrain, culture, beach sandal-to-hiking boot ratio — there are plenty of things to distinguish the north state from Southern California. Add to that list where congressional delegations stand on Gov. Jerry Brown’s divisive plan to construct a massive new water delivery system.

Any lament that U.S. executives are sitting on cash at their companies instead of investing in plants and equipment may be about to get louder.

When Apple CEO Tim Cook announced late last year that the tech company wanted to bring some manufacturing back to the United States, it raised the question of where? Now we know: Texas.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Gov. Jerry Brown acted Wednesday as California’s cheerleader-in-chief, countering the state’s anti-business reputation in an address to hundreds of business, agriculture and education leaders.

Company: MedtronicCA Net Job Gain/Loss: -70Reason: LayoffCity/Region Losing Jobs: Santa Rosa, CANotes: Layoffs in Santa Rosa part of larger plan by company to cut 2,000 employees worldwide

Company: NetAppCA Net Job Gain/Loss: -235Reason: LayoffCity/Region Losing Jobs: Sunnyvale, CA

Does California’s signature environmental law protect the state’s air, water and wilderness by acting as a check on runaway projects proposed by overzealous developers? Or does it encourage baseless lawsuits that unfairly delay and even derail worthwhile projects that could provide badly needed jobs and housing for Californians?

Company Name:NetApp Inc.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/05/20/netapp-terminates-235-sunnyvale-jobs.html

It continues to be a mixed bag for the California economy. In fact, sometimes the signals are downright confusing.