Oct. 18--The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has lost a handful of influential members over its opposition to climate change legislation being considered by Congress.

In recent weeks, Apple and three utilities -- Exelon, PNM Resources and PG&E -- said they will drop their membership in the Chamber, which represents more than 3 million businesses and organizations. Nike, which said it "fundamentally disagrees" with the group on climate change, will remain a member but resign from the Chamber's board.

"Nike believes U.S. businesses must advocate for aggressive climate change legislation," the athletic apparel maker said in a Sept. 30 statement. "We believe that on the issue of climate change, the Chamber has not represented the diversity of perspective held by the board of directors."

Exelon Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe supported the legislation in a speech to industry leaders and regulators last month, saying "the carbon-based free lunch is over."

"The price signal sent through a cap-and-trade system will drive low-carbon investments in the most inexpensive and efficient way possible," Mr. Rowe said at an American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy conference.

Another major industry group, the National Association of Manufacturers is losing Duke Energy as a member because of NAM's views on the legislation.

The recent defections from the Chamber come after one of its executives advocated putting the scientific findings of climate change on trial in much the same way evolution was examined during the 1926 Scopes Monkey Trial, where a teacher was tried for breaking a Tennessee law preventing the teaching of evolution.

The executive later said the reference was inappropriate, but the damage was done.

"We find it dismaying that the Chamber neglects the indisputable fact that a decisive majority of experts have said the data on global warming are compelling and point to a threat that cannot be ignored," PG&E Chairman, CEO and President Peter A. Darbee wrote in a Sept. 18 letter to Chamber President Thomas J. Donohue.

"Extreme rhetoric and obstructionist tactics seem to increasingly mark the Chamber's public stance on this issue," Mr. Darbee wrote. "These reflect neither the true range of views among members nor, in many cases, an honest view of the economic and environmental realities at hand."

The Chamber is used to taking criticism from labor unions and environmental groups, not from its own. Now a group of 43 investors representing more than $16 billion in assets is asking more Chamber members to distance themselves from the business lobbying group.