Representatives of the presidential campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama agreed yesterday that the nation needs to pursue a policy of developing alternative fuels rather than current reliance on oil.

But John McCarrick, a lawyer and energy policy adviser to McCain, said oil will continue to be a big part of our more immediate energy needs. He called for increased off-shore drilling for oil.

Elgie Holstein, a senior adviser to the Obama campaign and former senior aide in the Clinton Administration's Department of Energy, said Obama is "open" to off-shore drilling, but wants to do so only after a bipartisan agreement in Congress and after the states where the drilling occurs agree. He wants to impose an excess profits tax on oil, he added.

Virginia is one of the states where off-shore drilling is being considered.

McCarrick and Holstein addressed a forum on energy and the environment at the University of Richmond. The forum was sponsored by the University of Richmond Law School and the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.