Why on earth would we want an 80-year- old Texas oil billionaire to decide the future energy plan for our country, especially when he doesn't seem to like either electric cars or the new thermal-solar energy? ("Pickens urges wind, natural gas - not oil," Business, July 11.)

Notice that both of the alternative energies T. Boone Pickens favors - wind farms for heating and air conditioning, and natural gas for cars - lend themselves nicely to formation of a monopoly. Seems to me he's climbed on the bandwagon too late to qualify as a pilot, notwithstanding his $58 million bribe.

No alternative should be taken off the table yet. Let good science decide.