Norman to pull the plug on electricity

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Okla. -- Cities across the world went dark for an hour Saturday night. On Sunday, Norman residents will join their efforts to raise awareness about climate change and highlight the need to conserve energy.

Josh Maxey spearheaded the effort called "Hour Norman." He's asking residents to switch the power off for one hour.

"We're not here to force global warming down their throat," he said. "It's about saving energy, making your homes more efficient."

Maxey said the hour also could save people, like Amy Morris some money.

"Hopefully a lot of people plan to do it; I know I do," Morris said.

With rising energy costs, she said she's feeling the pinch.

"We try to conserve," she said. "Whenever we go to a different room we turn the lights off."

Local residents aren't the only ones participating in the event. The Blu restaurant has cooked up a plan including a new menu and changing their ambience with candlelight, Thomas Houser said.

"We're just going to open all the windows, turn off all the lights, music," Houser said.

Maxey said he also plans on doing this again but as a statewide effort in September.