Washington - Research & Publications
Fact sheets, reports, and other publications on Washington.
Here's a catalog of Sightline's research--including books, reports, and articles--on Washington trends.
most recent | publication type
-
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. -
09/16/2011
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? -
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. -
04/04/2011
Page
Curbing Stormwater Pollution
Stormwater doesn't match the traditional image of pollution. There are no factory smokestacks belching waste. Yet polluted stormwater packs a punch. Sightline's report, Curbing Stormwater Pollution, looks at the challenges we face and the opportunities we have to clean up our waterways. -
03/09/2011
Report
Curbing Stormwater in Puget Sound
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. -
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. -
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. -
06/24/2010
Report
Northwest Wildlife Icons Still at Risk
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. -
03/08/2010
Page
Industrial-Strength Stormwater Fix (pdf)
A blue-collar business has teamed up with a green community group to build a sustainable stormwater solution in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. -
02/22/2010
Article by Sightline
Taxing toxins - Letter to the Editor
The polluters who manufacture hazardous substances in Washington do real harm to our air and water. In fact, The Times’ darling, the Anacortes refinery — owned by the Texas oil giant Tesoro — is a case in point. It’s facing a new federal lawsuit for failing to test for important air pollutants like sulfur and benzene. -
01/07/2010
Page
Climate Policy: Fair and Effective Solutions
What makes smart climate policy? How can we be sure it is fair, effective, and efficient? Read primers, fact sheets, and reports on how to do climate policy right. -
01/07/2010
Article by Sightline
Vancouver Is Cascadia's Greenest City, Who Is Second?
Monday, Seattle inaugurated a new, ultra-green mayor, which got me thinking comparatively. Which of the three largest Cascadian cities is the greenest? Not in plans and intentions and declarations but in facts?