Rachel Notley plans to promote climate plan in Washington

Premier Rachel Notley is heading to Washington this week to talk to U.S. politicians and officials about her government's new climate change plan and will try to change the province's "dirty oil" image.

"I want them all to know that after years of inaction by the previous government, Alberta is now at the forefront in the fight against climate change," Notley said Tuesday.

Notley also plans to sell Alberta as a place to do business. 

"There are some tremendous opportunities with respect to diversification and investment opportunities in renewables, in alternative energy here in Alberta," she said. 

Although Notley has been pushing for a pipeline to get Alberta crude to world markets, she said she isn't meeting with U.S. opinion-makers to push for the Keystone pipeline.

Notley will meet with Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton and talk to the Centre for American Progress and Cambridge Energy Research Associates. She will also check-in with Gitane Da Silva, Alberta's representative in Washington.

Notley is giving the Enders Memorial Lecture at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies while in Washington. 

Notley will leave Wednesday and return Friday.

Four staff members and two security officers are travelling with Notley. The trip is estimated to cost $32,000.