Sightline in the News

Who’ll Stop the Rain?

08/03/2010
Seattle Business

Whether falling in a mist or a torrent, the Northwest’s rain is familiar and dependable. But as rainwater streams off roofs and across pavement, it picks up a toxic cocktail of substances such as chemicals to remove moss, crank case drips and lawn pesticides. Polluted stormwater runoff is the leading source of hazardous chemicals entering Washington’s largest body of water, making oysters and clams unsafe to eat, and sickening the region’s endangered orcas.

Millions to hit road for Fourth of July

07/02/2010
Tri-City Herald

An improved economy and moderate gas prices are helping fuel the travel demand during the Fourth of July holiday. About 35 million Americans -- an increase of more than 17 percent from 2009 -- are expected to take a trip at least 50 miles away from home through Monday, according to AAA. And many will use a car or RV for travel.

Carbon tax 'overwhelmed' as B.C. burned more gas

07/02/2010
BC Local News

Despite paying North America's first carbon tax – which climbed another notch July 1 – B.C. motorists actually burned up more gas last year. Per capita gasoline sales leapt almost 10 per cent in 2009, according to figures compiled by the Seattle-based Sightline Institute.

NW Gasoline Use Ticks Up, Reversing Long Decline

07/01/2010
KPLU

If you're hitting the road for this Fourth of July weekend you may unwittingly be part of a trend. Per capita gasoline use is up in the Northwest. That reverses a long decline according to a conservation-oriented think tank. KPLU's Tom Banse has more.

B.C. carbon tax jumps more than 1 cent

07/01/2010
CBC

The HST is not the only new levy that B.C. residents start paying Thursday. The province's carbon tax on gasoline and other fuels also goes up more than one cent per litre, meaning higher prices at the pump, at home and elsewhere, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

BC a Fast Growing Gas Hog

07/01/2010
The Tyee

British Columbians racked up the largest year-to-year spike in gasoline sales in over three decades, according to a new report by the Seattle-based Sightline Institute.

British Columbians loaded up on gas in 2009: report

06/30/2010
Vancouver Sun

B.C. drivers binged on gas in 2009 like never before, according to a Seattle-based non-profit organization that’s committed to sustainability and a green economy in the Northwest. In fact, says a new report from Sightline Institute, per capita gasoline consumption in B.C. rose by nearly 10 per cent in 2009 — the largest year-over-year increase in at least 30 years, likely because of economic activity preceding the 2010 Olympics and a drop in gas prices.

Just in Time for Your Three-Day Weekend

06/30/2010
The Stranger

Northwest drivers are driving more for the first time in a decade, according to a report released today by the Sightline Institute. The nonprofit environmental research group reports that in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon "per-person gasoline consumption increased... after reaching a 43-year low in 2008." And spokesman Eric de Place says that preliminary data indicates that people are logging more miles on the highway in 2010, too.

Good news for Cascadia's wildlife watchers

06/25/2010
The Tyee

After precipitous declines over the previous century, some of the iconic wildlife populations of the Pacific Northwest have notched tentative gains in recent years, according to the Seattle-based sustainability research center Sightline.

Time to Hang Up the Phone Book

06/14/2010
The Stranger

After focusing on compost bins, bans on Styrofoam service-ware, and possibly even plastic bags, the Seattle City Council is ready to tackle unwanted phone books. “I don’t use phone books anymore—it’s a waste of resources and a waste of money,” says council member Mike O’Brien, who is looking into an opt-in policy for Yellow Pages so that they would only be delivered to those who request them. “The question is how many people are still using phone books?”

Wolves or Caribou?

06/01/2010
Spokesman-Review

No one can predict how the endangered Selkirk woodland caribou will fare if another animal extirpated in large parts of its historic range — the gray wolf — moves back into their territory. In the last two or three years, wolves (likely moving south from BC or possibly east from Montana) have been documented on both the British Columbia and Idaho sides of the Selkirk Mountains near caribou recovery areas, Wakkinen said. That could be good — or bad — for caribou, depending on how things play out.

Orcas going through mini baby boom

04/20/2010
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A miniature baby boom has hit Puget Sound's resident orcas. Seven babies have been born to the three local pods in 2009 and 2010 -- boosting the Sound's southern resident population to 89. But this is a baby boom with plenty of caveats.

The Cost Overrun Time Bomb

04/12/2010
Publicola

Even those who are rabidly opposed to the idea of spending billions to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bore tunnel would have a hard time coming up with a scheme for sabotage as effective as the state’s cost overrun provision. It’s a ticking time bomb, and the state is going to need some Hurt Locker-style luck to keep it from blowing up in the tunnel’s face.

As Metro Prez Race Cranks Up, Rex Takes CRC Heat

04/09/2010
The Portland Mercury

While Metro presidential candidates Bob Stacey, Rex Burkholder and Tom Hughes are probably spending the morning polishing up their speeches for today's big debate at City Club, Burkholder has something to worry about: prominent NW environmental think tank Sightline is taking Rex to task for his support of the Columbia River Crossing.

Closing the Sustainability Gap

04/02/2010
Publicola

A renegade crew of Seattle’s green rock stars have organized the “Climate Neutral Seattle Unconference,” which will take place tomorrow from 9am to 3pm at the offices of Mithun. Unfortunately, the event is full, so sorry if what I say below is just a tease.