Cascadia: Strong Communities, a Green Economy, a Healthy Environment
Sightline Institute’s nonpartisan, nonprofit research and policy solutions help the region reconcile people, place, and prosperity.
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Practical, research-based policy solutions
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Strategies for unusual coalitions to win
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Latest Research
All Sightline Institute research is available to you to cite, use, and share, per our free use policy.
Olympia Moves to Further Loosen the Stranglehold of Single-Family Zoning Laws
The city’s new rules to spur missing-middle housing are a good first step, but still retain too many restrictions.
A Two-Word Fix for Alaska’s Ballot Confusion
Letting parties tag their nominees would make Alaska’s elections clearer, fairer, and harder to hijack by disingenuous candidates.
No More 48-Candidate Races
Reasonable filing fees would help voters, parties, and serious contenders alike in Alaska and Portland.
Will an Electoral Glitch Send a Republican to Patty Murray’s Seat in 2028?
Washington’s top-two primary elections can misfire—but there’s an easy fix.
To Build Fast, Think Small
How re-legalizing small apartment buildings would spur the homes city dwellers need now.
How Cascadia Can Maintain Its Heat Pump Momentum
Three tools to help the region’s low-income families afford more efficient heating and cooling systems—even as public dollars dry up.
Who Owns a Utility Matters Less for Climate Than the Rules They Play By
Advocates can focus on fast-tracking policies that are already working well elsewhere.
The 1,083-Page Environmental Assessment That Ignores Climate Change and Tribes
The Northwest needs a better way to evaluate power line projects.
Northwest Data Centers: A Climate Test and Potential Opportunity
A Sightline report finds that—with the right policies—the region could harness data center demand for clean power to decarbonize the broader economy.
Ending Subsidies for New Gas Hook-Ups Can Save Cascadians Millions
Line extension allowances are on their way out, and regulators can finish the job.
A Two-Word Fix for Alaska’s Ballot Confusion
Letting parties tag their nominees would make Alaska’s elections clearer, fairer, and harder to hijack by disingenuous candidates.
No More 48-Candidate Races
Reasonable filing fees would help voters, parties, and serious contenders alike in Alaska and Portland.
Will an Electoral Glitch Send a Republican to Patty Murray’s Seat in 2028?
Washington’s top-two primary elections can misfire—but there’s an easy fix.
Time to Tune Up Washington’s Primaries
Once the most innovative in the nation, the top-two model is showing cracks. Here’s how the Evergreen State can upgrade.
For Oregonians, Better Elections Are Hidden in Plain Sight
The state’s constitution lets localities opt for methods that better reflect their mix of voters.
Four Ways Context Matters for Wildfire News Coverage
Reporters can help people see the forest, even when the trees are on fire.
Blazing a Trail: The Vital Role of Wildfire Hazard Maps
Sophisticated and high-resolution maps such as Oregon’s are essential tools for thriving in a fiery future.
The Best Wildfire Solution We’re Not Using
Three ways to curb the sprawl that traps us on a wildfire treadmill.
Olympia Moves to Further Loosen the Stranglehold of Single-Family Zoning Laws
The city’s new rules to spur missing-middle housing are a good first step, but still retain too many restrictions.
To Build Fast, Think Small
How re-legalizing small apartment buildings would spur the homes city dwellers need now.
Homes on Wheels Are Filling a Big Gap in Portland
Three personal stories show how these small, affordable, flexible homes provide big solutions for families.
Oregon Decides It Was a Mistake to Let Cities Ban Homes
Two new bipartisan laws suggest that for Oregonians to afford to live where and how they want, state-level zoning works better.
Oregon’s Zoning Reforms Are Working—But They Need Some Upgrades
Six years after a monumental rezone, Gov. Kotek’s HB 2138 will fill the gaps to more fully legalize starter homes.
How to Talk About Parking Reform—and Win
Our road-tested messaging guide to gain more great neighborhoods and the homes we need, and to kick excess asphalt to the curb.
Featured project
Getting to a Clean Electric Grid | What it will take to build a cleaner, more affordable, more reliable energy future for Cascadia.
Learn moreFeatured resource
The Pro-Homes Messaging Toolkit | Win more affordable, connected, and thriving cities and towns with these research-backed and road-tested communication resources.
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