North Carolina businesses are defecting from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's opposition to clean energy legislation.

The list of companies that are criticizing the U.S. Chamber or have publicly broken with the organization over its head-in-the-sand stance is growing and now includes Apple, Pacific Gas and Electric, Microsoft, Nike, and GE, among others.

On Thursday, officials from three North Carolina companies will hold a news conference affirming their opposition to the chamber and their support of energy legislation.

The companies are Argand Energy Solutions of Charlotte, Burt's Bees of Durham and T.S. Designs of Burlington.

Gov. Beverly Perdue is in Asheville today and tomorrow.

Perdue is holding an economic roundtable at UNC-Asheville this morning and speaking to the Council of Independent Business Owners and touring a General Electric plant this afternoon.

On Friday, she'll tour the Bent Creek Institute biotechnology facility on the campus of the North Carolina Arboretum.

The trip is part of Perdue's ongoing efforts to be more visible throughout the state.