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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.

Housing + Cities

Parking Reform Alone Can Boost Homebuilding by 40 to 70 Percent

More evidence that parking flexibility is key to housing abundance.
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Democracy + Elections

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.
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Democracy + Elections

A Magic Boost for Low-Turnout City Elections

Seattle’s 2024 special city council election showed just how easily local voter participation could skyrocket.
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Democracy + Elections

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. 
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Democracy + Elections

Election Reform Measures Lost; Election Reform Didn’t

What to learn—and what to leave behind—from the 2024 ballot measure losses in Cascadia.
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Climate + Energy

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Correcting the Record on Initiative 2066

What the Seattle Times editorial board got wrong about the Washington ballot measure.
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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.
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(Re)explaining Washington’s Climate Commitment Act

Understanding the cap-and-invest law that Washington Initiative 2117 would repeal.
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Summer Recap: Changing Portland’s City Charter

Where ballot measure 26-228’s reforms stand, less than two months from Election Day.
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When Cities Switch To One-Winner Council Districts, Housing Growth Plummets

Housing growth drops 20 percent, on average, in cities making the sort of switch proposed by Portland’s Commissioner Mapps.
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In Seattle, Courts Might Reject Approval Voting . . .

. . . but not Ranked Choice Voting.
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No, Approval Voting Would Not Start Sooner than Ranked Choice Voting in Seattle

Either one would likely launch in August 2025.
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What Peltola’s Win Can Teach Alaska (and America)

Lesson #1: The electorate is not binary.
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Compare Cheney and Murkowski’s Political Fates—It’s All About the Primary

Forget the general election for a moment. It’s how we run primary elections that decides who’s even a contender.
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Herbicide Use on Washington Wheat Fields Has Quadrupled. Tech Could Slash That.

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The Tilling Catch-22: Erosion vs. Superweeds

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Agroforestry Could Help Cascadia’s Farmers and Dwindling Salmon Populations

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Adapting to Climate Change Means Farmers Need Each Other More Than Ever

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Oregon Legislature Considers Pesticide Reform Bills

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EPA Slow to Regulate Neonic Pesticides That May Be Killing Off Bees

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Fighting the Freeway Industrial Complex and What It Means for Housing, Infrastructure, and Transit

Alex Contreras (Happy City Coalition), Adah Crandall (Sunrise Movement PDX and Portland Youth Climate Strike), and Martha Roskowski (Further Strategies) discuss their organizations’ advocacy work and the intersection of housing, the climate crisis, and transit in the push against freeway expansions.
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The Future of Historic Preservation

Social design artist Cleo Davis, Portland Historic Landmark Commission’s Kristen Minor, and moderator Steph Routh dig into the often controversial work of historic preservation and how the effort can and should be used to acknowledge all histories.
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Cultivating Business Leadership for Abundant and Equitable Housing

Two Portland-based civic leaders discuss how entrepreneurship and a better, more just urban form can go hand in hand.
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Equitable Schools Demand Equitable Neighborhoods

Building strong and diverse schools relies on building strong and diverse communities. Courtney Westling (Portland Public Schools), community advocates Scott Bailey and Dan Reed, and moderator Rachel Cohen (Vox) discuss the challenges in ensuring diversity in public schools amid gentrification, displacement, and school choice policies.
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Housing Abundance Requires Abundant Transportation

Alex Baca (Greater Greater Washington), Alex Contreras (Happy City Coalition), Amy Stelly (Claiborne Avenue Alliance), Jarrett Walker (Jarrett Walker + Associates), and moderator Michael Andersen (Sightline Institute) share their experiences in transportation advocacy and discuss how robust, effective, and efficient transit provides people with access to opportunity.
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Keeping Our Neighbors Housed: Humanizing Homelessness and Bringing Everyone to the Table

Mercedes Elizalde (Central City Concern), Cole Merkel (HereTogether), and Mindy Woods (Resident Action Project) discuss how to form coalitions to then build power and effect policy change on all levels so that everyone can have a safe and stable place to call home.
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Video: Housing Solutions Are Climate Solutions

In 90 seconds, how zoning for more home choices in our cities helps affordability and cuts climate pollution.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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Americans Want to Vote As Trump Does (By Mail), Not As He Says

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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. 

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