The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty has received another $50,000 from Exxon-Mobil according to a review of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) documents conducted by Greenpeace. The $50,000 contribution from the Exxon Foundation brings the Acton Institute's total received from Exxon-Mobil to $215,000 since 1998.
Exxon-Mobil has come under intense criticism in recent years for funding research that promotes confusion over global warming. It has spent more than $28 million since 1998 funding organizations who question the science behind global warming or who directly attack environmentalists. While receiving less money and attention than some of the larger organizations funded by Exxon, the Acton Institute advances views and policies friendly to Exxon. This year, the Acton Institute brought global warming skeptic Fred Smith of the Competitive Enterprise Institute to Grand Rapids and also began running a regular blog feature dedicated to challenging the idea that there is scientific consensus on global warming. These recent activities fit within a history of advocating industry-friendly "free-market" policies and attacking environmental regulations.
