St. Paul Turns Off Lights to Promote Conservation

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The city of St. Paul will go dark for an hour - to raise awareness about energy conservation and climate change.

Between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, buildings throughout St. Paul will turn off their lights. It's all part of a global movement called "Earth Hour," which encourages individuals, businesses and governments to use less energy.

Mayor Chris Coleman says St. Paul is a national leader in energy conservation and sustainability. Many landmarks will be dark during the hour, including the State Capitol, Xcel Energy Center and the First National Bank Building.

City residents, businesses, places of worship and others are encouraged to participate.

Earth Hour's goal is to raise awareness and inspire people to make daily energy-saving changes.