Governor Quinn Encourages Participation in Earth Hour 2011

CHICAGO - March 25, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today called on homes and businesses throughout Illinois to participate in Earth Hour 2011, an international effort to encourage responsible energy practices by turning off non-essential lights for one hour during the last weekend of March.

"Protecting our environment today and for future generations is one of my top priorities," said Governor Quinn. "By turning out our lights for an hour on March 26, the people of Illinois will show their continued commitment to commonsense, sustainable energy practices."

The state of Illinois will participate in Earth Hour by turning out the lights in the Executive Mansion in Springfield and the James R. Thompson Center and Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26th.

These actions coincide with other famous landmarks around the world also going dark, including Chicago's Willis Tower, Field Museum, Navy Pier and Wrigley Building.

Earth Hour was first organized by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007 to support efforts to reduce light pollution, energy waste and climate change and has since gained hundreds of millions of participants around the world. For more information about Earth Hour 2011 and Illinois' other environmental initiatives, visit www.worldwildlife.org and Green.Illinois.gov.