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Reading the Nov. 16 article titled "Virginia, other states teaming up to harness region's offshore winds" brought to mind an article in the December issue of Popular Mechanics titled "The new wildcatters."

Texas has legislated to make it much easier for wind and solar electrical power to be developed within the state.

Texas has an advantage in that it doesn't have to play politics with Congress and environmentalist lobby groups to develop offshore energy, oil, natural gas, and now wind power.

This is thanks to a stipulation made by Sam Houston before Texas joined the Union. It established the coastal boundaries out to 10.3 miles instead of the 3-mile limit of other coastal states.

Recall the "Cape Wind" project off Nantucket, which was fouled by Sen. Ted Kennedy.

I would ask our Gov.-elect McDonnell to work with the legislature to create new laws that would make it easier to fast-track all forms of renewable energy here in Virginia.

Virginia and other coastal states should lobby Congress to extend their control of coastal waters to that similar to Texas.

Texas generates billions of dollars in revenue from its offshore oil and natural gas resources and is poised to do the same with the development of offshore wind farms.

Virginia has huge resources of oil and natural gas off its coastline and could use revenue generated by these resources to: rebuild infrastructure throughout the state; subsidize solar, wind, and biofuel projects; and create new jobs.

It is time for Virginians to fight to loosen the federal hold on what we can and cannot do within our own state. It is time for our elected leaders to maximize the development of Virginia's energy resources.

Larry J. Ottolini

Mineral