Earth Hour, which takes place Saturday, March 27th at 8:30 p.m. local time, is an event in which millions of Americans will turn out their lights for one hour in support of action on climate change and making the switch to a cleaner, safer and more secure world. This year marks the third year of the event, which attracted an estimated 80 million participants in the U.S. last year, and nearly a billion people around the world, as lights dimmed on such global icons as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sydney’s Opera House, the Great Pyramids of Gaza and New York’s Empire State Building.

WWF’s Earth Hour 2010 is gaining momentum as businesses around the country embrace the movement and spread the word about what will be the world’s largest call to action on climate change. Wells Fargo, Ikea, The Coca-Cola Company, HSBC and electric utility provider ComEd, have all signed on as Earth Hour 2010 corporate participants and will help spread the message that by working together, individuals can make a positive impact toward a sustainable future.

Following the success of Earth Hour 2008 and 2009, Wells Fargo returns as a corporate partner and is encouraging its customers to participate in Earth Hour through messages on its ATMs, expected to reach more than eight million people. The company is also turning off its own non-essential lights where practical. Additionally, Wells Fargo Green Teams (grassroots groups of Wells Fargo team members who help drive environmental stewardship) are encouraging co-workers to participate in the event.

“The significance of Earth Hour is that it demonstrates that by both working together and also taking personal responsibility for turning off lights, unplugging electrical items and making our homes more energy efficient, each of us can make a positive difference,” said Mary Wenzel, director of Environmental Affairs at Wells Fargo. “Please join us.”

Following the success of Earth Hour 2009, ComEd returns as a presenting sponsor for Earth Hour Illinois 2010. ComEd’s support of Earth Hour is part of the company’s portfolio environmental programs.

“ComEd is committed to environmental stewardship, and we are proud to once again partner with World Wildlife Fund to bring Earth Hour to Illinois,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and chief operating officer of ComEd. “We hope Earth Hour will help our customers and people around the world learn more about the need for energy conservation as a cost-effective way to slow climate change and benefit our environment.”

Other Businesses in the U.S. that have signed on to participate in Earth Hour include:

• The Coca-Cola Company is engaging its global system to participate in Earth Hour, darkening iconic signs in key locations such as Times Square, turning off lights in offices and bottling facilities, initiating employee awareness activities, donating media to showcase Earth Hour PSAs, and hosting viewing parties and other special events.
• HSBC will be shutting off lights in nearly 50 facilities in U.S., Bermuda, and Canada, and disseminating Earth Hour information to over 10,000 employees.
• IKEA stores in over 35 countries will be participating in Earth Hour. In the U.S., all 37 stores will encourage their visitors to think of ways to take responsibility toward good sustainable practices, as well as turn off their lights for one hour.
• Goddard Systems, Inc. will engage more than 40,000 students in activities, games and lessons designed to increase awareness of how children can conserve energy in their daily lives.

U.S. landmarks such as Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, Sea World in Orlando, the strip in Las Vegas, New York’s Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral, California’s Santa Monica Pier and the Space Needle in Seattle are among the hundreds of sites that will turn off non-essential lighting for the hour, in what is expected to be the largest-ever call to action on climate change.

Outside the U.S., WWF said it expects thousands of cities in more than 105 countries to take part in Earth Hour 2010, including Athens, Bangkok, Cape Town, Delhi, Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Manila, Moscow, Rome, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Toronto.