Sightline Reports
Sightline's latest reports on key Northwest trends such as land use, energy, pollution, health, and more.
As part of our Cascadia Scorecard project, Sightline Institute publishes periodic in-depth reports on the Northwest's progress on trends such as energy efficiency, forest stewardship, and human health.
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Making Sustainability Legal
05/17/2012
Some of the most innovative solutions for building thriving and sustainable communities in the Northwest are, at present, simply illegal. Current rules make it difficult to share bikes, find a cab, take toddlers on the bus, and hang a clothesline. -
Transfer of Development Rights
05/15/2012
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. -
The Facts about Kinder Morgan
04/03/2012
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. -
2012 Update: Grading Economics Textbooks on Climate Change
03/21/2012
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. -
Northwest Ocean Acidification
11/03/2011
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. -
Toll Avoidance and Transportation Funding
09/19/2011
As the Northwest prepares major highway projects--the replacement I-5 bridge of the Columbia River, the replacement SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington, and Seattle's deep-bore tunnel--tolling has an increasingly significant roll to play in project financing. Yet a review of the literature shows that when it comes to predicting traffic volumes and revenue from newly-tolled roads, official projections are often overly-optimistic. This is especially true of highways with un-tolled alternative routes nearby. -
Peak Gas: NW Gas Consumption Stalled in 1999
09/12/2011
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. -
Coal Export: A History of Failure for Western Ports
09/06/2011
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. -
Coal Exports From Canada
08/03/2011
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. -
Washington State Carbon Tax
07/26/2011
A carbon tax has long been heralded as an economy-wide tool to curb greenhouse gas emissions. As the federal government continues to struggle in implementing comprehensive climate policy, leaders in Washington State have shown interest in a state carbon tax. -
Curbing Stormwater in Puget Sound
03/09/2011
Rain may not seem like a likely culprit for many of Puget Sound's pollution woes. But on it's journey from sky to stream it picks up a host of toxics from our roofs, roadways, and yards. The end result is a toxic cocktail that spills into our waterways. This report catalogs the challenges polluted stormwater poses for the Puget Sound region, and highlights local Low Impact Development projects that are helping solve the problem. -
Grading Economics Textbooks on Climate Change
11/07/2010
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. -
Shifting Gears: Despite struggling economy, NW gasoline use ticks up
06/30/2010
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. -
Northwest Wildlife Icons Still at Risk
06/24/2010
According to Sightline's Cascadia Scorecard several of the region's wildlife icons are still at risk. Overall, gains for salmon, orcas, and wolves outweighed declines in caribou and sage-grouse, pushing the index to an all-time high. Still, more progress is needed. -
Cost Overruns For Seattle-Area Tunnel Projects
10/16/2009
As a way to inform the debate over Seattle’s deep-bore tunnel, Sightline has prepared a basic comparison of other high-profile tunnels recently constructed in the area. It turns out cost overruns are the rule, not the exception, for big transportation projects in Seattle.