Greenpeace poked fun at the province's carbon capture and storage plans on Monday, when activists sent treasure hunters on a search of the legislature grounds for buried cash.

"We are giving one lucky Albertan the chance to get their $600 back," spokesman Mike Hudema said as he gave out hourly clues.

Six hundred dollars, Hudema said, is roughly equal to what each Albertan will pay into the $2-billion project the province has touted to bring down greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands production.

The hunt was designed to put the spotlight on the province's plans to invest in carbon capture and storage technology, one day before Finance Minister Iris Evans delivers the provincial budget.

Greenpeace suggests the province rethink the pledge and put money toward improving public transit and creating more jobs.

Last month, the province won an international Aspen Institute award, recognizing "excellence for making real contributions to innovation, implementation and communication of energy and environmental solutions."

Last week, Canwest learned four of the province's biggest oilsands producers -- Suncor, Syncrude, ConocoPhillips and Statoil-Hydro Canada -- had opted out by failing to submit plans to build carbon-capture projects by the March 31 deadline.

The companies pointed to high costs and said the money can be better spent elsewhere.

Hudema said Greenpeace's position is "definitely bolstered by the fact some of the largest oilsands producers are saying the same thing we've been saying all along."

During question period Monday, Premier Ed Stelmach called the Greenpeace treasure hunt a "stunt."

Alberta Infrastructure spokesman Darcy Scott said the government was not too concerned about the protest, which did not cause serious damage to the grounds. "It's pretty business as usual to have some kind of event here."

A spokesman for the solicitor general's department, which manages grounds security, said sheriffs were on hand to observe the treasure hunt.

The solicitor general's spokesman, Andy Weiler, said there are no charges pending in connection to the action.

About 10 people hunted for the money. After more than four hours of searching, 22-year-old university student Sam Vance-Law unearthed a wad of $20 bills in a tin box buried below a tree near the Lois Hole Memorial Garden.

By Trish Audette, The Edmonton Journal