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.
Cascadians, Get Ready to Vote on Voting
How Portland’s Form of Government Makes It Hard to Find Parking
Shifting Gears
Washington Should Move All Elections to Even Years
Ten Things Portlanders Should Know About Multi-Member Districts
Lessons for Washington State Leaders as Another US Oil Refinery Closes
One of Washington’s Anti-Climate Initiatives, 2066, Eked Out a Victory. Why?
Four Ways Gov.-elect Ferguson and Washington Lawmakers Can Build on the State’s Big Climate Win
Correcting the Record on Initiative 2066
The Contradiction of a Split Vote on Washington’s Anti-Climate Ballot Initiatives
(Re)explaining Washington’s Climate Commitment Act
The History of Washington’s Wandering Election Day
A Magic Boost for Low-Turnout City Elections
Reintroducing: Your Local Library, a Critical Tool for Democracy
Election Reform Measures Lost; Election Reform Didn’t
Alaskans Keep Their Model Election System
Portland Election Delivers City’s Most Representative Council Ever
More Trees for More Neighbors
Q&A: The Costs of Parking Mandates in Booming Austin
Developers Sound Off: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Build All This Dang Housing
What’s Happening on Housing in the US Federal Government?
Winning Abundant Housing: Japan and New Zealand
Tenants’ Rights in Our Backyard—and Tenants in Our Coalition, Too
Video: Housing Solutions Are Climate Solutions
Poll: Washington Voters Out Ahead Of Local Leaders On Zoning Reforms
Video: Zoning for All Kinds of Affordable Homes
Recipes for Successful Abundant Housing Communications
How to Tear Down the Invisible Walls in Your City’s Zoning Code
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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.
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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
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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.
