Researching 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.
Our Work
All Sightline Institute research is available to you to cite, use, and share, per our free use policy.
Parking Reform Alone Can Boost Homebuilding by 40 to 70 Percent
More evidence that parking flexibility is key to housing abundance.
The History of Washington’s Wandering Election Day
Despite intending to choose a voting day that’s best for voters, timing could still be easier—and legislators can fix that.
A Magic Boost for Low-Turnout City Elections
Seattle’s 2024 special city council election showed just how easily local voter participation could skyrocket.
Reintroducing: Your Local Library, a Critical Tool for Democracy
A Q&A with author and advocate Shamichael Hallman on how public libraries can help us rebuild civic trust and connection—if we redefine our relationship with them. 
Election Reform Measures Lost; Election Reform Didn’t
What to learn—and what to leave behind—from the 2024 ballot measure losses in Cascadia.
Lessons for Washington State Leaders as Another US Oil Refinery Closes
In a state home to five oil refineries, a forthcoming, taxpayer-funded study can answer some central questions.
Lessons for Washington State Leaders as Another US Oil Refinery Closes
In a state home to five oil refineries, a forthcoming, taxpayer-funded study can answer some central questions.
One of Washington’s Anti-Climate Initiatives, 2066, Eked Out a Victory. Why?
And how leaders can still help families and businesses electrify for safer, cleaner buildings in line with the state’s climate values.
Four Ways Gov.-elect Ferguson and Washington Lawmakers Can Build on the State’s Big Climate Win
After Washingtonians overwhelmingly voted to keep the Climate Commitment Act, their leaders have powerful opportunities ahead.
Correcting the Record on Initiative 2066
What the Seattle Times editorial board got wrong about the Washington ballot measure.
The Contradiction of a Split Vote on Washington’s Anti-Climate Ballot Initiatives
Initiatives 2066 and 2117 are closely linked, but polls and endorsements diverge.
(Re)explaining Washington’s Climate Commitment Act
Understanding the cap-and-invest law that Washington Initiative 2117 would repeal.
With Ranked Choice Voting Coming to Washington State, It’s Time to Coordinate Rollout
State legislators can support local jurisdictions with streamlined implementation guidelines.
One Year In and One Year Out: An Update on Portland Charter Reform
For followers of democracy reform, Portland offers a rough blueprint.
Idaho, Montana, and Washington Could Save $30 Million by Moving Local Elections to National Election Day
A preliminary estimate of potential cost savings from municipal election consolidation.
What Can Portland Learn from America’s Oldest Proportional Election System?
City Councilor Burhan Azeem shares his experiences from Cambridge, Massachusetts.
A Fairer Election System in Alaska Helped More Independents Win OfficeÂ
Open primaries and ranked choice voting likely led to greater political diversity in the Alaska legislature, while their effect on age, gender, and race was less apparent.
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.
Abundant Housing Requires Abundant Democracy
Candace Avalos (Verde Portland, Neighbors Welcome board member), Jeannette Lee (Sightline Institute), and moderator Alex Zielinski (Portland Mercury) discuss electoral reforms in Alaska and Portland, and their potential to affect housing policy.
Social Housing in Our Backyards: West Coast Campaigns Aim for Housing Access for All
Tiffani McCoy (Real Change and House Our Neighbors!), Darrell Owens (California YIMBY), and moderator Ned Resnikoff (California YIMBY) talk about campaigns for social housing and how this model can succeed in the US.
Showing Up for All Our Neighbors: YIMBY and Houselessness
Kaia Sand (Street Roots), Trisha Patterson (Portland: Neighbors Welcome), and moderator Hanna Brooks Olsen discuss the importance of government, organizations, and the unhoused working together and recognizing each other’s strengths and lived experiences to inform policies.
From Highways to Homes: The Opportunity to Reconnect Communities Divided by Freeways
Shawn Dunwoody (Hinge Neighbors), Regan Patterson (Congressional Black Caucus Foundation), Amy Stelly (Claiborne Avenue Alliance), Marc Wouters (Marc Wouters | Studios), and moderator Ben Crowther (Congress for the New Urbanism) discuss their efforts to remove freeways and replace them with thriving connected neighborhoods.
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.
Community Land Trusts in Our Backyards: A Key to Homeownership for Working Families
Kathleen Hosfeld (Homestead Community Land Trust) and Diane Linn (Proud Ground) provide a primer on a housing model that breaks barriers to permanently affordable homeownership.
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.
Subscribe to our Newsletters
Timely digests
Join the 15,000+ readers who get Sightline Institute’s latest research, insights, and quips from our team delivered straight to their inbox. Always free, thanks to our community of generous supporters.
Sightline news picks
Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
Cut through the noise and get the news you can use. Sightline editors—real people—hand-pick headlines from 150+ outlets to keep you on top of the stories shaping our region’s communities, economy, and environment. Reader favorite; formerly known as Sightline Daily.
Sightline weekly
Saturday mornings.
Only have a few minutes each week? Our weekly wrap-up delivers the latest Sightline research and solutions, plus top headlines to keep movers and shakers in the know.
Sightline month in review
End of the month.
Get a month’s worth of solutions research and key headlines, plus a personal note from a Sightline team member connecting the dots and putting our work into the larger news context.
Issue insights from Sightline experts
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.Â
Farms + Forests
Where sustainability meets stewardship of our natural resources and food systems. Get dispatches from actual farms and forests—and the policy discussions that determine their health and climate impacts.
