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Welcome to Sightline Institute’s redesigned website!

You’ll find our same top-notch solutions research, just with a fresh new look. Learn more here about new features, or simply browse as usual. 

Projects and Features

Sightline Institute researches the region’s most pressing sustainability challenges. 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. Below are a selection of the projects we’re working on, as well as ways you can get involved and stay updated.

All Sightline Institute research is available to cite, use, and share, per our free use policy.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Alaska Election Map showing where regional election offices are located

 

ALASKA ELECTIONS

Analysis of Alaska’s first statewide use of open primaries and ranked choice voting, plus resources for voters.

 

 

 

BEYOND PARKING MANDATES

Data and insights on the growing movement to break free from parking mandates

 

Portland city flag against a blue sky with cloud wispsFAIRER ELECTIONS IN PORTLAND

Portland’s Charter Commission is currently evaluating the city’s governing charter, looking for possible amendments and reforms. Portlanders will get to vote on any amendments in 2022, but they can get involved now to contribute to the public process.

 

Oregon Timberlands. Source: Marcus Kauffman, OR Dept of Forestry

 

Long Rotations for Cascadian Forests 

In this series, Sightline senior researcher Kate Anderson describes how long rotations can deliver not just greater timber yields, but also greater carbon   storage and water and habitat benefits.

 

 

Checklist itemizing "1st, 2nd, 3rd" options and a person poised with a pen.INTRODUCTION TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING

Ranked choice voting is gaining in popularity. We have found that ranked choice voting improves the incentive structure of elections for both voters and candidates.

 

Managing Wildfires

 

Strategies to protect communities and reduce long-term fire risk.

 

 

 

Night time photo of Seattle, WA with the lights glowing to form a "vein" of the city

Transitioning Off Gas

Research and policy recommendations to prune
the gas system, scale electrification, and protect ratepayers.

 

 

Previous Projects

 

Illustration of a three-story sixplexHOW OREGONIANS RE-LEGALIZED ‘MISSING MIDDLE’ HOMES

After a seven-year campaign, Portland formally lifted a series of 97-year-old bans on seven different types of homes. This history was developed in partnership with Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

 

TRANSITIONING FROM PUGET SOUND OIL REFINERIES

As Cascadia works to meet its climate commitments by boosting energy efficiency, electrifying cars and trucks, and shifting to clean energy sources, oil demand will decline precipitously. But that doesn’t mean the communities and workers supporting this industry must share its fate.