Twenty PUSH Buffalo protesters were ordered by an Amherst police officer and National Fuel Gas Co. security to leave the company’s Williamsville headquarters Friday, after demanding to hand-deliver a letter about energy concerns to a company executive.

The West Side neighborhood group sought to set up a meeting with Chief Operating Officer David F. Smith, who the group claimed has ignored past requests.

A security officer, soon joined by another, promised to deliver the letter but would not allow PUSH members into the building.

After about 15 minutes, with the front doors locked, the security officer told the PUSH members that despite being National Fuel customers, they were trespassing and summoned the Amherst police officer.

PUSH members left after the police officer told them they had to leave.

A call to National Fuel seeking comment was not returned.

The PUSH letter called on National Fuel to participate in weatherization programs to lower heating costs, create jobs and reduce energy use in conjunction with its Green Jobs Green Housing campaign.

“All we basically wanted to do was have David Smith schedule a meeting with us so he can help us winterize our homes here in Buffalo,” said Brenda Miller, a renter on the West Side.

She said PUSH sought the meeting because it wants Smith to understand the impact of heating costs on ordinary people.

“My personal story is, I’m paying more on my gas bill than my food bill. If National Fuel partnered with PUSH in weatherizing homes and creating jobs, I could pay my gas bill and put more food on the table.”

PUSH member David Cook said he was disappointed by the reception the group received.

“We were not treated in a welcoming fashion. We were locked out of the lobby and felt pretty slighted,” Cook said.