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Ranked Choice Voting Is Simple—Election Laws Are Not
A field guide to ranked choice voting in primaries, general elections, and more.
Can We Go Beyond Car Primacy—To Policymaking that Serves People and Places First?
Non-driver Anna Zivarts' case for steering away from car dependency -
Voter Participation Jumped When Alaska Opened Its Primaries
2022 turnout for every candidate contest reached a decade high.
Spoiler Alert! Majority Winners Are No Guarantee
Oregon’s past statewide and federal elections are full of spoiler candidates and non-majority winners.
The Bizarre Red-Blue Politics of Election Consolidation
And the chance for stronger democracy it creates. -
Alaska’s open primary flipped the campaign script
In his book 'The Primary Solution,' Nick Troiano shows why other states might consider following Alaska's lead on switching to nonpartisan open primary elections.
Audit Stretches to Find Trouble in Portland’s Affordability Mandate
Should people who qualify for subsidized housing get to have home offices? And other odd questions.
Bellingham’s Parking Reform Pilot Pays Off
Old Town’s first new building project has more than double the number of homes and less parking than the city’s old code would have allowed. The rest of the city might follow suit. -
Seattle Deserves a Better Comp Plan
The city can make three critical fixes to its 20-year growth plan: Let middle housing be bigger, allow apartment buildings in more places, and legalize car-free homes everywhere.
Aging Solutions Are Climate Solutions
Adapting communities to better serve growing elderly populations also makes those places more climate-resilient. A new book charts the path to making this connection.
Boise’s New Zoning Code Sparks Surge in Permits for ADUs
Rules about who can live in them and where they can park were key barriers to backyard cottages. -
It’s (Past) Time for British Columbia to Legalize Roommates
Another piece of the puzzle to make housing more affordable in the province—and keep up with southern neighbors Washington and Oregon.
The Election Calendar Is Cheating Idaho and Montana Voters
But neighboring Wyoming offers a solution. -
Nonpartisan Open Primaries Let Alaskans Choose Values Over Party
More than half of voters in the 2022 midterm primaries split their tickets between candidates from across the political spectrum.
Washington’s 2024 Short-Session Housing Wins
Three innovative bills carry forward the momentum of 2023 and complement its measures to legalize less expensive housing.
Washingtonians Will Soon Enjoy Cleaner Heating and Cooling Options
HB 2131, to allow thermal energy networks, unanimously passed in the 2024 legislative session. It’s a win for consumers, the climate, pipeline workers, and electric grids.
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Today’s top sustainability headlines for Cascadia, curated by Sightline Institute.
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Ranked choice voting is simple. Election laws are not
Sightline Institute
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An important legislative win will create more housing in Anchorage
Anchorage Daily News
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What does the BLM Public Land Rule mean for tribal stewardship of public lands?
High Country News
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Supreme Court to rule on key environmental cases
E&E News
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Gray whales off the OR coast have been shrinking over the past 2 decades
Oregon Public Broadcasting
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EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor’ plan is halted
Oregon Public Broadcasting
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Calls for a ‘bolder’ transportation levy in Seattle with $150 million increase
KOMO News
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Opinion: Pro-housing reform promotes economic justice and the environment
Anchorage Daily News
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The estuary smothered by a thousand logs
Hakai Magazine
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It’s not the avocado toast
Seattle Times
Our Mission
Sightline Institute’s mission is to make Cascadia a global model of sustainability— strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment.
We envision an economy and way of life that are environmentally sound, economically vibrant, and socially just. We believe that if Cascadians succeed at reconciling themselves with the natural heritage of this place—the greenest part of history’s richest civilization—we can set an example for the world.
