Advancing solutions for strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment.
We provide citizens and decision-makers with the policy analysis and practical tools they need to advance an economy and way of life that are environmentally sound, economically vibrant, and socially just.
Our Work
All Sightline Institute research is available to you to cite, use, and share, per our free use policy.
Yes, a Land Value Tax Is Possible in Washington State
A new report modeling a property tax building exemption in Spokane rebalances incentives toward community goals, encouraging homebuilding and discouraging in-city vacant land speculation.
How Threats to Voting by Mail Could Affect Cascadia
Analysis for voters in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
How to Close Montana Primary Elections’ ‘Drop-and-Swap’ Loophole
Sen. Steve Daines gamed the system to all but hand-pick his successor. A Missouri-style deadline extension would prevent such backroom deals.
Washington Passes First Statewide Scissor Stair Reform
The measure ushers in more light-filled, infill-suited apartment homes—and sets a model for other states.
From Peltola to Begich, Ranked Choice Voting Delivered What Alaskans Wanted
Cross-party appeal elevated Alaska’s former and current US representatives.
Washington State’s Parking Reform Is Already Working
Cities are laying the groundwork for more homes thanks to new flexibility on parking—with other states taking note.
Climate Is Stuck, Housing Isn’t
Why apartments may be the most powerful domestic climate move of the Trump years.
Washington State Did Something Big for the Power Grid—Oregon Could Be Next
Washington’s new transmission authority can help plan, build, and finance the power lines necessary for harnessing clean energy.
Four Ways to Get More Power Lines—and Clean Power—for Oregonians
Oregon may be one of the hardest places to build transmission lines. Here’s how to change that.
The Northwest Hasn’t Learned the Lessons of WPPSS (“Whoops”)
How overreliance on one grid study could drive a fossil fuel comeback in the Northwest.
11% of Northwest Residents Live in Fire Country; 100% Pay the Price
1.6 million people live in high hazard areas. As the region continues to build in flammable landscapes, policymakers can protect communities with smarter building choices and the truth about rising risk.
Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters
New programs for heat pumps, induction stoves, and plug-in solar would let renters reap the rewards of the clean energy revolution.
How Threats to Voting by Mail Could Affect Cascadia
Analysis for voters in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
How to Close Montana Primary Elections’ ‘Drop-and-Swap’ Loophole
Sen. Steve Daines gamed the system to all but hand-pick his successor. A Missouri-style deadline extension would prevent such backroom deals.
From Peltola to Begich, Ranked Choice Voting Delivered What Alaskans Wanted
Cross-party appeal elevated Alaska’s former and current US representatives.
Five Ways Election Reform Has Revamped Alaska Politics
Open primaries and ranked choice voting are no longer new but are still delivering for voters and leaders alike.
Video: Proportional Representation, Explained
What it looks like when voters get a fair share of the seats at the table.
Ranked Choice Voting, the Utah Way
How a conservative state piloted better elections for voters—lessons from four of the movement’s leaders.
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.
Yes, a Land Value Tax Is Possible in Washington State
A new report modeling a property tax building exemption in Spokane rebalances incentives toward community goals, encouraging homebuilding and discouraging in-city vacant land speculation.
Washington Passes First Statewide Scissor Stair Reform
The measure ushers in more light-filled, infill-suited apartment homes—and sets a model for other states.
Washington State’s Parking Reform Is Already Working
Cities are laying the groundwork for more homes thanks to new flexibility on parking—with other states taking note.
Climate Is Stuck, Housing Isn’t
Why apartments may be the most powerful domestic climate move of the Trump years.
Idaho’s Big Housing Breakthrough Year
From ADUs to starter homes, lot splits to ‘manufactured in Idaho,’ Gem State leaders just opened up more housing options in a price-crunched state.
Missoula’s Zoning Reform Raises the Bar for Small Cities
The western Montana town of 80,000 just overhauled its outdated code and legalized more homes in every neighborhood.
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.
Video: Housing Solutions Are Climate Solutions
In 90 seconds, how zoning for more home choices in our cities helps affordability and cuts climate pollution.
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.
Video: Zoning for All Kinds of Affordable Homes
Cities need all kinds of affordability, both subsidized housing and naturally affordable, modest-sized, market-rate homes.
Recipes for Successful Abundant Housing Communications
In this panel discussion, three expert communicators share how they’ve crafted compelling narratives, engaged coalitions, and garnered press attention for housing affordability and climate policy.
How to Tear Down the Invisible Walls in Your City’s Zoning Code
10 tips for zoning reformers from a town that legalized housing.
How we work
Sightline Institute equips leaders with practical policy solutions, thoughtful arguments to advance them, and unusual coalitions to win them.
Agenda-setting
Case-making
Policy influence
As a think tank, our piece of the coalition puzzle is to supply rigorous independent research, plus smart messaging and strategy recommendations, to help drive policy wins across Cascadia. Here’s how we do it:
- Set the agenda: Sightline researchers explore numerous potential solutions in our issue areas, identifying those with the highest impact and political promise for our region. In other words, we get curious and dream big.
- Make the case: Having identified priority opportunities, we research them in-depth, publish rock-solid data, and develop sophisticated arguments and messaging to steer the conversation. Here, we’re like a debate team in overdrive.
- Influence policy: From the halls of state legislatures to city council chambers to editorial board meetings, we then transform those well-honed solutions into reality—helping draft bills, equipping champions with the evidence and messaging they need, and assembling the unusual, multi-partisan coalitions often needed for success. This is how we win positive change for Cascadians—and set a model for other places in North America and beyond.
Why our topics
What does democracy have to do with sustainability? Why is housing a climate issue? How do you balance a bigger electric grid with conservation?
Sightline centers its efforts on what we have identified to be turnkey opportunities: urgent, high-impact issues to propel sustainability in our region and model best-in-class solutions for other places.
- For example, using election methods whose outcomes better reflect the will of the people can deliver more of the popular climate policies many voters already support, often across partisan lines.
- As for housing, it’s about giving more people options to affordably live in the cities and towns they love, while reducing their energy use and climate impact by doing so.
- And when new transmission lines needed to usher an electrified future come with small-picture local, environmental impacts, we zoom out to the bigger climate panorama and the promise of clean, renewable energy, clear skies and clean air, and say (along with Bill McKibben) “yes in our backyards.”
This big-tent approach to reconciling people, place, and prosperity in our region—and making Cascadia its global model—means we have worked on dozens of topics over our 30-plus years of operation. We stay nimble to seize emerging opportunities while also committing to long-term solutions.
