North Carolina is no longer the best state for business, says CNBC

• Politicians, business leaders and economic developers regularly refer to CNBC's annual ranking when boasting about North Carolina.

Driving the news: North Carolina got dinged because of its infrastructure ranking, which fell from No. 16 to No. 20. Specifically, CNBC said the state's water utilities need $20 billion in repair and maintenance over the next two decades, citing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency numbers.

• Plus, CNBC wrote that the state's electricity customers lose power for nearly eight hours per year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The intrigue: The difference between North Carolina and first-place finisher Virginia was the tightest in the list's history. Just three points separated the neighboring states.