The Gardener on the Roof

An innovative idea for energy conservation appeared in the op-ed pages of yesterday’s Seattle Times. Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck makes the case for "green roofs" on Seattle’s buildings. Roofs covered by a thin layer of growing plants have a natural insulation that reduces energy costs (to the tune of nearly $150,000 per year at the new Justice Center, which sports a green cap). They also filter pollution and reduce noise. And they’re pretty to boot.

Eric de Place

Eric de Place, former director of the Thin Green Line program, spearheaded Sightline’s work on energy policy for two decades. Known as a leading expert on coal, oil, and gas export plans in the Pacific Northwest, he is considered an authority on a range of issues connected to fossil fuel transport, including carbon emissions, local pollution, transportation system impacts, rail policy, and economics. Find his research here.