(The following is a statement by Massapequa resident Richard Schary (an open-space advocate who lives 10 miles from Jones Beach), read at the Long Island Offshore Windmills' meeting July 11. It is reprinted here at the author's request.)

"I have 10 simple questions I would like MMS to answer regarding the proposed wind factories off Jones Beach (MMS is Minerals Management Service):

"• Is there a hidden conflict of interest that the former chairman of LIPA is now on the board of directors of FPL and has received at least 1,000 shares of FPL stock, worth over $40,000, free? I ask MMS to please - 'follow the money' (FPL is Florida Power & Light).

"• Will MMS examine the probability that the contract specifications for this offshore wind factory were deliberately outlined in advance to fit FPL, so they could submit the winning bid, without there being any true competitive bidding? Please MMS, 'follow the money.'

"• Why did a very powerful former United States Senator lobby Congress for a special fast-track exemption for FPL under the new MMS rules? How much was he paid? Please remember, MMS, to 'follow the money.'

"• Why did Newsday, in a May 30, 2006 editorial, say that 'details about the winning bid from FPL are still a mystery'? It certainly seems that Newsday wants us to 'follow the money.'

"• What is the total amount that this project will receive in federal production tax credits, accelerated depreciation credits, pollution credits and green energy credits? We all pay for these credits, so we taxpayers need to 'follow the money.'

"• How many of our old, dirty, smoke-belching power plants will actually be shut down as a result of this project? LIPA says that we can't afford to shut them. I say we need to 'follow the money.'

"• Will wind factories give us a false sense of security and encourage consumers to use even more energy, since we will have more power available? Remember, wind factories don't conserve anything by themselves, so we are asking all true environmentalists to 'follow the money.'

"• What are the chances that on windy, cool, days, when LIPA is obligated to purchase FPL's output, but we don't need the power, that our precious wind energy will then be routed through the grid to New York City. Remember, FPL, too, has to 'follow the money.'

"• Why, as an alternative, can't LIPA give, for free, every ratepayer six compact fluorescent light bulbs at a wholesale cost of about $100 a household? This would give us an immediate 140-megawatt reduction in power and save over $400 million that this wind factory will cost. We all have to 'follow the money.'

"• One final question: did we ratepayers in any way pay for all these T-shirts being given out by organizations supporting the windmills?

Remember to always 'follow the money'!"

Richard Schary