Aspen biz group eyes taking on U.S. Chamber for its climate-denying ways

More Colorado companies and business organizations are piling on with the Obama administration in an escalating war of words with the rigidly conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce over climate change and other points of contention.

Earlier this month, a number of Colorado firms – mostly in the renewable energy sector – called out the chamber for its “climate-denial” tactics and its call for a “Scopes monkey trial” on global warming. The groups touted a letter signed by 117 Colorado businesses supporting the Boxer-Kerry climate change bill that was sent to Colorado Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet.

Now the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) is considering a letter censuring the U.S. Chamber, which ACRA is a member of, although not all members are comfortable with taking a political stance. Outspoken environmental advocates at the Aspen Skiing Company have urged the local chamber to speak out on a national issue with local ramifications, according to the Aspen Daily News, and Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland agrees with the SkiCo.

Meanwhile, the rhetoric continues to heat up between the Obama administration, which is now reaching out directly to dissenting chamber members like Apple and Nike, and chamber CEO Thomas Donohue. Apple recently quit altogether, and Nike quit the chamber board.

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