Clear the Lines: Policy and Messaging for the Electric Grid the Northwest Needs
Two Sightline reports detail how Oregon and Washington can build a robust, climate-friendly energy future.
August 2026
Wind turbines neighbor transmission lines, connecting clean energy to the homes and businesses that need electricity. Photo by Ian Dewar Photography, via Shutterstock.
The electric transmission grid—the poles and wires spanning vast distances and delivering power to our homes and businesses—is essential energy infrastructure. Everyone relies on this electricity system, but few think about it.
Sightline Institute’s latest research lays out just how consequential that disconnect is for the Pacific Northwest’s energy future and its climate goals—and what leaders can do about it. From specific policy recommendations for Oregon and Washington to research-backed messaging guidance, two reports deliver the facts and tools to help achieve a modern grid that can safely and affordably deliver clean energy across the region. These upgrades and expansions will not only aid these states’ progress on their climate goals but also efficiently connect their rural and urban communities to reliable, low-cost power for decades to come.
- Unlocking the Northwest’s Energy Future | Policy recommendations to responsibly speed up electric transmission line permitting in Oregon and Washington—for a safe, modern grid and shared climate progress. | By Emily Moore and Kelly Trumbull
- Messaging the Northwest’s Energy Future | Public opinion research shows strong support for grid modernization—and how to talk about it. | By Anna Fahey
Related materials
Messaging quick guide:
