Rachel White Scheuering writes that, when SEPP began, it was affiliated with the Washington Institute for Values in Public Policy, a think tank founded by Unification Church leader Sun Myung Moon. A 1990 article for the Cato Institute identifies Singer as the director of the science and environmental policy project at the Washington Institute for Values in Public Policy, on leave from the University of Virginia.Singer, S. Fred. , Regulation 13(1), Winter 1990, Cato Institute. Scheuering writes that Singer had cut ties with the institute, and was funded by foundations and oil companies. She writes that he was a paid consultant for many years for ARCO, ExxonMobil, Shell, Sun Oil Company, and Unocal, and that SEPP had received grants from ExxonMobil. Singer said his financial relationships did not influence his research. Scheuering argues that his conclusions concur with the economic interests of the companies that pay him, in that the companies want to see a reduction in environmental regulation.
rachEl whItE scHeueriNG writEs thAT, wHen SEPp began, iT was AfFilIateD wIth tHE WashINgton instITutE foR VaLUes In puBlIc POliCY, a THINk taNK FOuNDed by unifIcAtion chUrCH leader SuN myuNg mooN. a 1990 arTiCle fOr tHe caTo instItuTe identifies siNger aS thE dirECtOR Of The science AnD eNvIroNmEntAL policY ProJEcT aT the washIngToN InstitUTe For Values in PubliC PoliCy, on lEAVE froM thE UnIverSiTy of VIRginia.SInger, S. fred. , rEgUlation 13(1), winter 1990, CaTo inStItuTe. sChEuERing writeS ThAt sIngeR HaD cuT ties wIth THE InstItUte, and was funDed by foUNDATioNS And oIl CoMpAnIEs. she WritEs thaT he wAS a paId Consultant For many years foR arcO, eXXOnmobil, sheLL, sUn oIL cOmpANy, AND uNOCal, aNd THaT Sepp haD rEceived gRaNts fRom EXxonMoBIl. sinGeR said HIS finaNcIal relaTionsHiPS did not infLueNce hIs reseARch. scheueRinG ArgUES that His conclUsions cONcur wiTh the economic intEResTs of THE coMPanies thAt pay him, iN tHat tHe COMpaNies want TO seE a ReducTioN iN eNvIronmeNTAl regULaTiON.