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City Partners with World Wildlife Fund on Global Initiative

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, recording artist Jo Dee Messina, officials from World Wildlife Fund, and dozens of local business owners and city leaders today called on all Nashvillians to make a positive statement for our environment by turning off all nonessential lights for one hour on March 28.

Earth Hour will mark the first time that Nashville’s historic downtown district will intentionally go dark. WWF’s global initiative aims to increase awareness about climate change and demonstrate that people from all over the world care about the issue.

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“On March 28 at 8:30 p.m., Nashville will make a bold statement about the need to address climate change,” Mayor Dean said. “Our skyline, our iconic buildings from the Loveless Café to the Parthenon, our neighborhoods, and thousands of homes and businesses will go dark for one hour when nonessential lights are turned off.”

Dean has set a goal to make Nashville “the greenest city in the Southeast,” and has appointed a Green Ribbon Committee to make recommendations on environmental policy. “The city’s participation in Earth Hour falls right in line with the work of the Green Ribbon Committee and is one more way for Nashville to distinguish itself as a city that’s going green,” Dean said.

Mayor Dean was joined at the event by award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist Jo Dee Messina. Messina, the Nashville Earth Hour 2009 celebrity spokeswoman, said that when she heard Nashville had been selected as an Earth Hour flagship city, she knew she wanted to be a part of it.

“When it comes to the environment, we all play a part, and it’s up to all of us to take action,” Messina said. “That is why Earth Hour is such a great campaign. It lets something as simple as flicking a light switch become so much more. Earth Hour reminds everyone that if we all put in a little effort, we can achieve big results.”

Messina also announced that several other Nashville celebrities have signed on in support of Earth Hour including: Wynonna Judd, Big Kenny, Kathy Mattea, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Michael Nouri, Jars of Clay, SHeDaisy and Terri Clark.

While Nashvillians throughout the city are encouraged to turn off their lights for the event, a central focus of Nashville’s Earth Hour celebration will be the downtown area – specifically Lower Broadway and Second Avenue.

The mayor’s office and WWF are partnering with many downtown businesses to ensure that nonessential lighting is turned out during Earth Hour. Lights affecting public safety, such as lights in public spaces and in hospitals, will remain on.

To date, more than 70 businesses and local landmarks have agreed to turn off their non-essential lights, including many of Lower Broadway’s well-known honky-tonks and restaurants – Robert’s Western World, Layla’s Bluegrass Inn, Legends Corner, Big River Grille and Paradise Park. The Jack’s Bar-B-Que sign, widely recognized for its neon pigs flying over Broadway, will be turned off for the first time since it was installed more than 10 years ago. Organizers are encouraging Nashvillians to participate in Earth Hour by turning off nonessential lights at their homes prior to 8:30 p.m., and then heading down to Lower Broadway and Second Avenue to watch as downtown goes dark.

Lower Broadway honky-tonk establishment The Stage, which also plans to turn off its nonessential lights on March 28, hosted today’s kickoff.

Nashville is one of seven U.S. cities leading the global effort to show support for action on climate change. On Dec. 10, 2008, WWF announced that Nashville would serve as an official “flagship” city for Earth Hour 2009. Other flagship cities are Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, Atlanta and San Francisco.

“Just as Nashville is known worldwide for great music, now with Earth Hour it joins a chorus of cities worldwide pledging support for action on climate change,” said Leslie Aun, WWF’s managing director of Earth Hour U.S. “We salute Mayor Dean and city leaders for their leadership to make Nashville a more sustainable and environmentally friendly city. Our WWF scientists our working in Nashville to help protect Middle Tennessee’s rich river ecosystem.”

Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour. In 2008, Earth Hour went global. More than 50 million people turned out their lights, and the world’s most iconic landmarks went dark, including the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Roman Colosseum. WWF expects Earth Hour to be even bigger. From Warsaw to Hong Kong, more than 400 cities in 74 countries will go dark this March.

The Tennessean and TennesseeGreen.com, News Channel 5, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Nashville Electric Service, and Lightning 100’s Team Green are presenting sponsors for Nashville Earth Hour. Wells Fargo, The Coca-Cola Company, HP, Cox Conserves and Esurance are national Earth Hour sponsors. For more information about Nashville Earth Hour or to sign up to participate, visit www.EarthHourUS.org/Nashville.

Earth Hour (www.EarthHourUS.org) is a global initiative of WWF in which millions of people around the world will cast a vote in favor of action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour on March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm local time. By voting with their light switches, Earth Hour participants will send a powerful, visual message to their leaders demanding immediate action on climate change. WWF is the world’s leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, stop the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

Nashville Businesses, Buildings and Landmarks Participating in Earth Hour To Date:

A.A. Birch Courthouse
Adventure Science Center
American Apparel
Bank of America Plaza
Big River Grille and Brewing Works
Bluebird Café
Cabana
CMT
Commerce Center
Cummins Station
Demos’ Restaurant
Dunn Bros Coffee/Nashville
El Rey Mexican Restaurant
Encore Condominiums
Event Logistics
FedEx Office—Downtown
First Baptist Nashville
FIT Nashville
Flag World
Gardens of Babylon
General Jackson Showboat
Ghost Ballet Sculpture
Gruhn Guitars
H.G. Hill Urban Market
Hatch Show Print
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Jack’s Bar-B-Que
Kelly’s Western Wear
LifeWay Christian Resources
Lightning 100
LP Field
Layla’s Bluegrass Inn
Legends Corner
Loveless Café
Mathews Company
Metropolitan Courthouse
Midtown Café
Mike’s Ice Cream
Music City Suites
Musica statue
NashTrash Tours
Nashville City Center (First Tennessee
Bank high-rise)
Nashville Convention Center
Nashville Cowboy
Nashville Crossroads
Nashville Electric Service
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Nashville Shores
Nashville Songwriters Association
International
One Nashville Place
P & L Translations
Paradise Park Trailer Resort
Parthenon
Piranha’s Bar and Grill
Rhythm at Music Row
Robert’s Western World
Robin Realty Company LLC
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge
Sheraton Nashville Downtown
Sommet Center / Nashville Predators
State of Tennessee buildings (statewide)
Sunset Grill
The Pinnacle at Symphony Place
The Pita Pit
The Second Fiddle
The Stage on Broadway
The Stahlman Building
The Tennessean
Tuck-Hinton Architects
WKDF (radio station & sign)