Can you name the greenest state? It's Vermont according to a new study published by Forbes. Oregon and Washington take spots two and three.

The three top states all have low carbon dioxide emissions per capita, strong policies to promote energy efficiency and high air quality, as indicated by their major metro areas that are low in smog and ozone pollution.

They're also among the states with the most buildings that have received the U.S. Green Building Council's benchmark certification, known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

What is particularly startling about the study is that California doesn't even crack the top ten. This despite all the environmental policies that are in place. At least five of its metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Fresno, appear on the American Lung Association's 2007 list of cities with the worst long-term smog and ozone pollution.

At the bottom of the list: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Indiana and, at No. 50, West Virginia. All suffer from a mix of toxic waste, lots of pollution and consumption and no clear plans to do anything about it.

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