ASPEN — The Aspen Chamber Resort Association put a U.S Chamber representative in the hot seat Tuesday over the national organization's stance on climate-change legislation. He, in turn, challenged the local chamber to get involved in shaping the national group's policy.

Meanwhile, about 20 individuals, mostly local residents, gathered peacefully outside the Gant, site of the meeting, to either push climate-change legislation or protest what they perceived as the U.S. Chamber's obstructionist activities on the issue.

Peter Havel, executive director of the eight-state south/southwest region for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said afterward that he doesn't typically encounter protesters. It appears he didn't in Aspen, either. They gathered after he was already inside the Gant conference room early Tuesday and had dispersed by the time the discussion was finished, according to a local chamber official. Protesters were relegated to a public sidewalk outside the sprawling condo complex, far from the meeting room, though at least one of them eventually came inside to listen to the discussion.

The ACRA board voted last fall to take a stand opposing the U.S. Chamber's campaign on climate-change legislation, and subsequently invited the organization to explain its views in person.

“I think it's important to support what the ACRA is trying to do,” said Adam McCurdy of Aspen, a protester who carried a sign reading, “There is no Planet B.”

Alan Cole of Carbondale showed up to protest, as well, to let the national group know “they're on the wrong side of this issue,” he said.

Lee Cassin, environmental health director for the city of Aspen, mingled with the protesters, saying her participation was consistent with the city's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which have been blamed for climate change.

“It's tough for us to accomplish that if we don't have support beyond people just right here,” she said.

Inside, ACRA board members quizzed Havel on the U.S. Chamber's opposition to the Waxman-Markey energy bill and negative TV advertising that, say Aspen chamber members, does little to inform voters.

The U.S. Chamber doesn't oppose climate-change legislation, Havel stressed, noting a new Senate bill from sponsors John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman could gain the organization's support.

“We think it's less of the stick approach and more of the carrot approach to getting us to the same place,” he said, but added, “the devil is in the details.”

The U.S. Chamber's overarching policy, he said, is to support efforts that don't kill jobs, increase taxes or hinder competitiveness for U.S. businesses.

“There are many flavors of climate-change legislation,” Havel said.

David Perry, local chamber board member and senior vice president of the Aspen Skiing Co., told Havel the U.S. Chamber's policy has run counter to local sentiment on the issue.

“Frankly, we questioned around this table if we should be a member of the U.S. chamber if we are so unaligned,” he said.

Havel acknowledged some “high-profile defections” from the U.S. Chamber's membership over the issue, but said other members, including Google, have chosen to remain in the national group in order to have a voice in its policies.

“We welcome dissenting voices,” he said, urging the ACRA to get involved.

Perry also quizzed Havel on whether the U.S. Chamber has a conflict of issue policy, noting the national group's president, Thomas J. Donohue, is on the board of Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad is a big hauler of coal — a fossil fuel pegged as a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Havel said he didn't know if the organization had such a policy.

Auden Schendler, Skico executive director of sustainability, is not an ACRA board member, but sat in on the discussion. He prodded Havel on how the national chamber arrived at its position when, among its board of directors, the few who have actually taken a position have come out in support of climate-change legislation.

The national group doesn't unilaterally oppose such legislation, Havel reiterated, but it wants the legislation to jibe with the chamber's goals.

Aspen board member Don Sheeley urged the national chamber to poll its 300,000-plus members on important matters, rather than leaving policy decisions up to small committees.

The ACRA polled its membership on the local chamber's opposition to the U.S Chamber's stand, though the survey was conducted after the ACRA board had already voted to approve a resolution opposing the national group's campaigning against climate-change legislation. About 10 percent of the local chamber's membership responded; most supported the ACRA's stand.

janet@aspentimes.com