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A Fairer Election System in Alaska Helped More Independents Win Office
Open primaries and ranked choice voting likely led to greater political diversity in the Alaska legislature, while their effect on age, gender, and race was less apparent.
The Northwest Needs More Midsize Solar
While distributed solar can’t solve the region’s transmission woes alone, Idaho and Washington would be smart to follow Oregon’s lead in boosting it for a cleaner future. -
Montana’s Big Bipartisan Housing Deal
Amid the US’s second-worst price spikes and shortage of homes, a broad coalition unified to find solutions.
Parking Reform Legalized Most of the New Homes in Buffalo and Seattle
Studies from two very different cities showed the same result. -
Anchorage Adopts Model ADU Reforms
Alaska’s largest city just deregulated bonus homes in a big way, a step to right-sizing its housing options to locals’ changing needs.
Ranked Choice Voting Would Help Oregonians Vote for their True Favorite
HB 2004 in Oregon’s House of Representatives could bring voters more voice and more choice.
What Washington, DC, Can Learn from the Other Washington about Climate Policy
Six lessons from the Evergreen State for America's national leaders. -
Habitat for Humanity Goes All In for Multifamily Housing
But it needs relaxed parking mandates, widescale zoning reform, and public funding to make the most of the opportunity.
Poll: Washington Voters Out Ahead Of Local Leaders On Zoning Reforms
Statewide survey shows broad voter receptivity—across partisan, demographic, and geographic lines—to zoning changes to allow more homes like duplexes and small apartment buildings.
UPDATED: 50 Housing Bills and How They Fared in Olympia
Washington state leaders considered dozens of bills across the critical policy pillars of supply, stability, and subsidy. -
Hey, Olympia! If You Let Them, Cities Could Double Turnout in Local Elections
The case for freeing Washington cities to run elections on Election Day.
Yes, Oregon, There Is a Way to Build Enough Homes
The state has done it before—with more apartments and even a smaller construction workforce.
With Flexibility Over Parking, Oregon Homebuilders Get to Work
Tens of thousands of homes are now more buildable, including several projects now resurrected that local parking mandates had previously killed. -
Voters Want Fewer Elections: Here’s How to Do That
California, Arizona, and Nevada have shifted to even-year elections, boosting turnout and saving money—with lessons for other states.
Washington Lot Split Bills Would Create Starter Homes, Support Community Stability
HB 1245 and SB 5364 advance affordability, financial security, wealth-building, and other benefits for Washingtonians in all kinds of communities.
Washington Bill Would Boost In-law Apartments Throughout the State
Evidence is more conclusive than ever that the reforms proposed in HB 1337 are effective.
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SIGHTLINE DAILY
Today’s top sustainability headlines for the Pacific Northwest, curated by Sightline Institute.
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AK is getting into the carbon market
Alaska Public Media
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Ranked-choice voting may head to Oregonians for election
Bend Bulletin
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Is NW WA prepared for a train disaster?
Cascadia Daily News
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Dam removal provides new start on Yakima’s Naches River
Yakima Herald-Republic
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Views: Collaboration with Indigenous communities is critical for climate resilience
The Seattle Times
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What Supreme Court Clean Water ruling could mean for WA
The Seattle Times
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Portland’s newest Safe Rest Village will be the largest yet
Portland Mercury
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CA’s coastline cliffs are crumbling faster than expected
The Washington Post
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Listen: Tribes doing conservation work can’t access federal funds
NPR
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Women bicyclists need more bike lanes, and culture change
Bloomberg
Our Mission
Sightline Institute’s mission is to make the Northwest a global model of sustainability— strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment.
We envision in the Pacific Northwest an economy and way of life that are environmentally sound, economically vibrant, and socially just. We believe that if northwesterners 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.
