Our Work
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Homes on Wheels Are Filling a Big Gap in Portland
Three personal stories show how these small, affordable, flexible homes provide big solutions for families.
How Cascadia Can Maintain Its Heat Pump Momentum
Three tools to help the region’s low-income families afford more efficient heating and cooling systems—even as public dollars dry up.
Who Owns a Utility Matters Less for Climate Than the Rules They Play By
Advocates can focus on fast-tracking policies that are already working well elsewhere.
Seattleites Keep Their Model Campaign Finance Reform Program
City voters renewed funding for their iconic democracy vouchers.
Oregon Decides It Was a Mistake to Let Cities Ban Homes
Two new bipartisan laws suggest that for Oregonians to afford to live where and how they want, state-level zoning works better.
How Cascadia Can Maintain Its Heat Pump Momentum
Three tools to help the region’s low-income families afford more efficient heating and cooling systems—even as public dollars dry up.
Who Owns a Utility Matters Less for Climate Than the Rules They Play By
Advocates can focus on fast-tracking policies that are already working well elsewhere.
The 1,083-Page Environmental Assessment That Ignores Climate Change and Tribes
The Northwest needs a better way to evaluate power line projects.
Northwest Data Centers: A Climate Test and Potential Opportunity
A Sightline report finds that—with the right policies—the region could harness data center demand for clean power to decarbonize the broader economy.
Ending Subsidies for New Gas Hook-Ups Can Save Cascadians Millions
Line extension allowances are on their way out, and regulators can finish the job.
Seattleites Keep Their Model Campaign Finance Reform Program
City voters renewed funding for their iconic democracy vouchers.
Seattle’s Democracy Vouchers Are Popular Across the Political Spectrum
With candidates of all political stripes taking advantage of the city’s small-dollar campaign program, Seattleites themselves become the real winners.
For Juneau, There’s a Better Way than Cascade Voting
With election reform on the horizon in Alaska’s capital city, single transferable vote is a safe and tested route for multi-winner ranked elections.
Democracy Vouchers Are a Bargain
August’s levy renewal offers Seattleites proven benefits to democracy for a low price.
In Seattle Elections, Dark Money Follows Competition, Not Democracy Vouchers
Research finds independent spending is up in cities with and without public financing for local campaigns—and democracy vouchers are delivering on their people power promise.
Uncontainable Wildfires Are Inevitable. Community Destruction Is Not.
Five policy shifts could help communities harden their homes against fire danger.
Northwest Carbon Markets Can’t Support Longer Timber Harvest Rotations
That would take a New Zealand-style, all-forests cap-and-trade system.
Why Do We Choose Short Rotation Forestry Over Carbon Storage, Timber Supply, and Forest Health?
The discount rate, vanishing large-log mills, and fear of the spotted owl.
Yes, Long Rotations Can Yield Real Climate Gains for Cascadia
Harvesting trees at 80 years, instead of 40, stores more carbon and yields more timber.
Passing the Private Forest Accord Would Help Oregon Catch Up with Washington and California
That would be good news, finally, for salmon.
Homes on Wheels Are Filling a Big Gap in Portland
Three personal stories show how these small, affordable, flexible homes provide big solutions for families.
Oregon Decides It Was a Mistake to Let Cities Ban Homes
Two new bipartisan laws suggest that for Oregonians to afford to live where and how they want, state-level zoning works better.
Oregon’s Zoning Reforms Are Working—But They Need Some Upgrades
Six years after a monumental rezone, Gov. Kotek’s HB 2138 will fill the gaps to more fully legalize starter homes.
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.
How Washington State Won Parking Reform
Lessons and strategies for parking flexibility advocates elsewhere.
Washington Takes Statewide Zoning Reform to the Next Level
Lawmakers just passed groundbreaking bills on parking, TOD, and more.
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.
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Hear directly from our team of experts. They take you on a deeper dive into Sightline’s solutions, translating their latest analysis and sharing behind-the-scenes context for the research—as well as what to watch for next. Delivered about monthly.
Housing + Cities
Parking, zoning, sprawl, pollution, property rights, commutes, rents, and home prices—they all intersect where a legacy of exclusionary rules and regulations restrict homebuilding and fuel our housing shortage. Hear from Dan Bertolet, Catie Gould, Michael Andersen, and others exploring solutions for low-carbon, affordable, accessible cities and towns.
Climate + Energy
From electrification to decarbonization, carbon pricing to grid upgrades, Emily Moore and team decode the policy solutions to power a greener, more equitable, and robust economy for the region’s future.
Democracy + Elections
Protecting voter choice and voice with clear-eyed, independent analysis and models of success—Alan Durning, Jay Lee, Shannon Grimes, Al Vanderklipp, and others send you the latest elections solutions and opportunities, from Alaska to Oregon and inland to Montana and Idaho.