Climate change gesture: Minneapolis unplugging for 1 hour

Last update: March 21, 2008 - 10:03 PM

Except for what is absolutely necessary, all lights in city of Minneapolis municipal buildings will be turned off for one hour on a Saturday evening later this month in what is being billed as "Earth Hour."

Several privately operated buildings also are joining in from 8-9 p.m. on March 29, among them: the Wells Fargo Center, the IDS Center, Thrivent Financial, U.S. Bancorp and the State, Orpheum and Pantages theaters, the city said in a news release.

Look for the decorative underside of the Stone Arch Bridge downtown to also go dark, said the City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak in a joint announcement today following passage of their resolution.

The only city building lights that will stay on will be those deemed "required for life, safety or operations," the announcement said.

The World Wildlife Federation initiated "Earth Hour" as a global initiative "to finding solutions for climate change."

It began last year in Sydney and also will be observed for the first time in Europe, North America and Asia.

"If we can make a difference in one hour," Rybak said, "imagine how much good we can do for our environment if we practice energy conservation every day."

PAUL WALSH

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