Climate & Energy
Sightline's research on Cascadia's energy system.
Sightline's work on energy and climate encompass a variety of issues and topics, from fair, effective climate policy to energy efficiency. You may also be interested in other recent climate and energy content from Sightline's blog.
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05/15/2012
Report
Transfer of Development Rights
For years, local governments have used Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs to help channel urban growth away from farmland, forests, and open space. But new evidence suggests that, when used carefully, TDR programs can also help local governments achieve meaningful reductions in local greenhouse gas emissions. -
04/03/2012
Report
The Facts about Kinder Morgan
Kinder Morgan, an energy conglomerate, has announced plans to ship 30 million tons of coal to Asia each year from the Columbia River. But a track record of law-breaking, pollution, and cover-ups suggests an Oregon terminal wouldn't make a good neighbor. -
04/02/2012
Page
Coal Export FAQ
Answers to some common questions about economics, health, and pollution with regard to coal exports in the Northwest, including: why care about coal exports and are coal terminals good neighbors? -
03/21/2012
Report
2012 Update: Grading Economics Textbooks on Climate Change
This spring marks the release of new editions of introductory economics textbooks, so it’s a good time to update our 2010 review of the treatment of climate change in economics textbooks. As in 2010, some hit the mark while others are wildly misleading, but we’re happy to say that there’s plenty of good news: about half of the books improved their treatment of climate change. -
11/07/2011
Backgrounder
Ocean Acidification in Two Pages (PDF)
As humans emit excessive carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, our oceans become more acidic--causing harm to the basic organisms that make up the ocean's complex marine ecosystem. This backgrounder outlines the problem of ocean acidification in the context of the Pacific Northwest. It includes the impacts happening in the region now as well as steps we can take to fix the problem. -
11/03/2011
Report
Northwest Ocean Acidification
Every day, oceans do us a huge favor by absorbing about a third of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by human activities. But as we burn more fossil fuels and clear forests, our oceans absorb more and become more acidic. The result is water that's potentially lethal to a large swath of creatures that play a huge role in aquatic ecosystems, the Northwest economy, and our dinner plates. -
09/12/2011
Report
Peak Gas: NW Gas Consumption Stalled in 1999
Gasoline consumption in Oregon and Washington increased slightly in 2010, and sales held steady in the first part of 2011. But minor year-to-year fluctuations mask a more important trend: despite steady increases in population, volatile gas prices, and both surges and lulls in the region's economy, gasoline use has remained essentially flat since 1999. -
09/06/2011
Report
Coal Export: A History of Failure for Western Ports
Communities in Oregon and Washington are weighing the prospect of coal export facilities. Proponents of shipping American coal to Asia argue that coal will bring significant economic benefits to the region. In this research memo, we examine the risks of coal markets, review the history of coal exports on the West Coast, and evaluate the employment dimensions of coal terminals. -
08/03/2011
Report
Coal Exports From Canada
Virtually all coal exported by Canada is exported from just three ports in British Columbia. Most of it went to Asia, but in recent years very little US coal has been actually been exported through BC ports. Several of the ports are planning to expand their coal capacity, yet even with this additional capacity BC’s existing coal ports could not come close to serving the volumes of Powder River Basin coal planned for Washington’s ports. -
07/19/2011
Report
The Greenhouse Gas Impact of Exporting Coal from the West Coast
A new white paper by economist and University of Montana professor Tom Power shows proposed coal exports from terminals in Washington State would not only cause China to burn more coal, but set back advances in clean energy and efficiency for 30 to 50 years. -
03/02/2011
Fact sheet
The Dirt on Coal in Washington State
In the Northwest, coal often feels like someone else's problem. But the truth is coal is big in our region. The two coal-fired power plants in Oregon and Washington are some of the largest polluters in our region, but efforts are underway to transition the region away from this dirty energy source. -
11/07/2010
Report
Grading Economics Textbooks on Climate Change
Sightline's report reviews 16 of the most popular economics textbooks for the treatment of climate change. Grades came in across the board, but 5 textbooks fell into the "not recommended" category. Only one book received a flat-out F. -
08/07/2010
Page
What Is Performance Contracting?
Performance contracting is a time-tested tool used by local governments to increase energy efficiency, while guaranteeing energy savings are enough to cover the costs of the project. By tying contractor payments to real energy savings, there's a strong incentive to do projects that yield real results. -
06/30/2010
Report
Shifting Gears: Despite struggling economy, NW gasoline use ticks up
Despite a sputtering economy, Northwest drivers used more gasoline in 2009, reversing a decade-long trend of declining personal gas consumption. British Columbia saw a startling 10 percent increase in per-capita gasoline consumption. -
03/18/2010
Article by Sightline
Majority Rule
The news went barely noticed a few weeks back: almost every school district in the state of Washington that put a levy or bond measure on the February ballot won voter approval. Despite the worst recession in decades, citizens stood behind their public schools and agreed to tax themselves about $6 billion—more than $900 per resident of the state.