Sightline Institute
@sightline.org
Think tank cooking up nonpartisan policy research on housing, energy, climate, and democracy in Cascadia. 🧠🍳 Likes/follows ≠ endorsements.
Newsletters: sightline.org/signup
Newsletters: sightline.org/signup
Join our Senior Director of Climate + Energy @emilymoore.bsky.social to talk clean energy in the PNW with @propublica.org, Ecotrust, and @opb.org.
Thurs., Jan. 29 at The Redd in Portland — tickets are free but required: opb.org/nwenergy
Thurs., Jan. 29 at The Redd in Portland — tickets are free but required: opb.org/nwenergy
In Conversation with OPB: Northwest Energy
Take a deep dive with OPB into Northwest energy: how the Pacific Northwest is powered — and where it's falling short.
opb.org
January 9, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Join our Senior Director of Climate + Energy @emilymoore.bsky.social to talk clean energy in the PNW with @propublica.org, Ecotrust, and @opb.org.
Thurs., Jan. 29 at The Redd in Portland — tickets are free but required: opb.org/nwenergy
Thurs., Jan. 29 at The Redd in Portland — tickets are free but required: opb.org/nwenergy
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Half of Seattle rents, including our new mayor (and yours truly).
But renters can't enjoy upgrades that lower bills and make our homes cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Some ideas for how @mayorofseattle.bsky.social can change that:
But renters can't enjoy upgrades that lower bills and make our homes cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Some ideas for how @mayorofseattle.bsky.social can change that:
@mayorofseattle.bsky.social is a renter. So is our climate director @emilymoore.bsky.social – and Emily has ideas for the newly-inaugurated Mayor Wilson to help renters get in on clean energy action like heat pumps, plug-in solar, and induction stoves.
Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters | Sightline Institute
New programs for heat pumps, induction stoves, and plug-in solar would let renters reap the rewards of the clean energy revolution.
www.sightline.org
January 8, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Half of Seattle rents, including our new mayor (and yours truly).
But renters can't enjoy upgrades that lower bills and make our homes cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Some ideas for how @mayorofseattle.bsky.social can change that:
But renters can't enjoy upgrades that lower bills and make our homes cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Some ideas for how @mayorofseattle.bsky.social can change that:
"The magnitude of the housing shortage is huge, the problems chronic, but the housing crisis is solvable."
@1alexhemingway.bsky.social writes that reforms target the right levers—non-market housing, more supply and zoning reform—but fall short in scale and implementation. @bcpolicy.bsky.social
@1alexhemingway.bsky.social writes that reforms target the right levers—non-market housing, more supply and zoning reform—but fall short in scale and implementation. @bcpolicy.bsky.social
This is why BC’s housing crisis hasn’t been solved yet
The magnitude of the housing shortage is huge, the problems chronic, but the housing crisis is solvable.
Throughout the province and country, the housing crisis is marked by high rents and prices, ...
bcpolicy.ca
January 8, 2026 at 6:39 PM
"The magnitude of the housing shortage is huge, the problems chronic, but the housing crisis is solvable."
@1alexhemingway.bsky.social writes that reforms target the right levers—non-market housing, more supply and zoning reform—but fall short in scale and implementation. @bcpolicy.bsky.social
@1alexhemingway.bsky.social writes that reforms target the right levers—non-market housing, more supply and zoning reform—but fall short in scale and implementation. @bcpolicy.bsky.social
Reposted by Sightline Institute
NEW // Op-Ed: Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters
Op-ed by Emily Moore via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/08/o...
Op-ed by Emily Moore via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/08/o...
Op-Ed: Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters » The Urbanist
# Seattle renters are largely locked out of the cost-saving and comfort-improving clean energy appliances, like heat pumps, induction stoves, and solar panels. Newly inaugurated Seattle Mayor Katie Wi...
www.theurbanist.org
January 8, 2026 at 4:28 PM
NEW // Op-Ed: Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters
Op-ed by Emily Moore via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/08/o...
Op-ed by Emily Moore via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/08/o...
@mayorofseattle.bsky.social is a renter. So is our climate director @emilymoore.bsky.social – and Emily has ideas for the newly-inaugurated Mayor Wilson to help renters get in on clean energy action like heat pumps, plug-in solar, and induction stoves.
Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters | Sightline Institute
New programs for heat pumps, induction stoves, and plug-in solar would let renters reap the rewards of the clean energy revolution.
www.sightline.org
January 8, 2026 at 4:38 PM
@mayorofseattle.bsky.social is a renter. So is our climate director @emilymoore.bsky.social – and Emily has ideas for the newly-inaugurated Mayor Wilson to help renters get in on clean energy action like heat pumps, plug-in solar, and induction stoves.
Reposted by Sightline Institute
We're baaaack! Back on Bsky, that is — we didn't stop working for more affordable, abundant homes in the legislative off-season.
This group is jazzed about the bills shaping up for 2026 (kicking off Jan. 12) with more to share very soon. Until then, subscribe to our newsletter: homes4wa.org/updates
This group is jazzed about the bills shaping up for 2026 (kicking off Jan. 12) with more to share very soon. Until then, subscribe to our newsletter: homes4wa.org/updates
January 6, 2026 at 8:44 PM
We're baaaack! Back on Bsky, that is — we didn't stop working for more affordable, abundant homes in the legislative off-season.
This group is jazzed about the bills shaping up for 2026 (kicking off Jan. 12) with more to share very soon. Until then, subscribe to our newsletter: homes4wa.org/updates
This group is jazzed about the bills shaping up for 2026 (kicking off Jan. 12) with more to share very soon. Until then, subscribe to our newsletter: homes4wa.org/updates
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Tongass National Forest in Alaska, one of the world’s last temperate rainforests, and the cultures that depend on it face threats from changing federal policy.
One of the last temperate rainforests may soon lose its protections
www.seattletimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Tongass National Forest in Alaska, one of the world’s last temperate rainforests, and the cultures that depend on it face threats from changing federal policy.
“We have a housing shortage, that’s the root cause of why prices are so high. We also have cities with a lot of empty, vacant lots in them, sitting there, usually being speculated on." @danbertolet.bsky.social
'Everybody works but the empty lot': Some Spokane leaders eye property tax reform to promote building
As Spokane city leaders look for new ways to boost development, some are leading the charge for a reform to the property tax system which would shift some of the tax burden off of homes and high rises...
www.spokesman.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:44 PM
“We have a housing shortage, that’s the root cause of why prices are so high. We also have cities with a lot of empty, vacant lots in them, sitting there, usually being speculated on." @danbertolet.bsky.social
Reposted by Sightline Institute
“From 2021 through 2024, #Portland permitted some 2,200 units like Moore’s — townhomes, duplexes and similar homes that are sometimes referred to as the “missing middle” between single-family homes and big apartment complexes. Over the same period, #SanFrancisco permitted about a sixth of that.”
This liberal city sees San Francisco as a role model — for home building failure
While prices for starter homes in San Francisco have surged, Portland has seemingly found the key to produce “missing middle” houses for first-time buyers.
www.sfchronicle.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:24 AM
“From 2021 through 2024, #Portland permitted some 2,200 units like Moore’s — townhomes, duplexes and similar homes that are sometimes referred to as the “missing middle” between single-family homes and big apartment complexes. Over the same period, #SanFrancisco permitted about a sixth of that.”
Correction: @emilymoore.bsky.social points out that #WALeg passed more allowances this year, which may influence the cap amount.
2026 comes with shiny new policy! Here's what we're excited about kicking in on Jan. 1 (or later in the new year) in Cascadia. 🪩✨
First up: Washington's carbon cap, outlined in the Climate Commitment Act, will tighten about 7% at midnight.
First up: Washington's carbon cap, outlined in the Climate Commitment Act, will tighten about 7% at midnight.
December 31, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Correction: @emilymoore.bsky.social points out that #WALeg passed more allowances this year, which may influence the cap amount.
Reposted by Sightline Institute
It'll also be the basis for a lot of my own work for @sightline.org in 2026: making cities more accessible, age-friendly, fiscally healthy and grocery-bag-ready by removing the cost and legal barriers to elevators.
This is now an elevator stan account. You have been warned.
This is now an elevator stan account. You have been warned.
December 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It'll also be the basis for a lot of my own work for @sightline.org in 2026: making cities more accessible, age-friendly, fiscally healthy and grocery-bag-ready by removing the cost and legal barriers to elevators.
This is now an elevator stan account. You have been warned.
This is now an elevator stan account. You have been warned.
Reposted by Sightline Institute
The Americas see about 3% of global elevator installations as of 2020. The U.S. & Canada: even less.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
December 31, 2025 at 2:57 AM
The Americas see about 3% of global elevator installations as of 2020. The U.S. & Canada: even less.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
2026 comes with shiny new policy! Here's what we're excited about kicking in on Jan. 1 (or later in the new year) in Cascadia. 🪩✨
First up: Washington's carbon cap, outlined in the Climate Commitment Act, will tighten about 7% at midnight.
First up: Washington's carbon cap, outlined in the Climate Commitment Act, will tighten about 7% at midnight.
December 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
2026 comes with shiny new policy! Here's what we're excited about kicking in on Jan. 1 (or later in the new year) in Cascadia. 🪩✨
First up: Washington's carbon cap, outlined in the Climate Commitment Act, will tighten about 7% at midnight.
First up: Washington's carbon cap, outlined in the Climate Commitment Act, will tighten about 7% at midnight.
Reposted by Sightline Institute
⚡2025 has been the biggest year for pro-housing wins in a generation! ⚡ WNN members worked hard to win campaigns across the nation. Let’s review a few trends that shaped this year ⬇️
December 31, 2025 at 3:12 PM
⚡2025 has been the biggest year for pro-housing wins in a generation! ⚡ WNN members worked hard to win campaigns across the nation. Let’s review a few trends that shaped this year ⬇️
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Over $500 million in funding that likely would have been allocated to sustainable transportation and clean energy programs will instead be used to backfill an existing tax credit under Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's budget package.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/29/f...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/29/f...
Ferguson Proposes ‘Unprecedented Sweep’ of Climate Dollars to Balance State Budget » The Urbanist
# Over $500 million in funding that likely would have been allocated to sustainable transportation and clean energy programs will instead be used to backfill an existing tax credit under Washington Go...
www.theurbanist.org
December 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Over $500 million in funding that likely would have been allocated to sustainable transportation and clean energy programs will instead be used to backfill an existing tax credit under Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's budget package.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/29/f...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/29/f...
Reposted by Sightline Institute
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Please tune in today, Friday, December 19th, at 2 pm EST, for a conversation with Anna Zivarts aka @nondriver.bsky.social about her new venture, along with Ruth Rosas, the Non-Drivers Alliance, and for a recap of the 2025 Week Without Driving Challenge
youtu.be/5fcBpdyrS0c
youtu.be/5fcBpdyrS0c
EPISODE 321 ANNA ZIVARTS: Week Without Driving Challenge Recap (2025)
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
YAY! IT’S PREMIERE DAY: Please tune in today, Friday, December 19th, at 2 pm EST, for a conversation with Anna Zivarts aka @nondriver.bsky.social about her new venture, along with Ruth Rosas, the Non-Drivers Alliance, and for a recap of the 2025 Week Without Driving Challenge
youtu.be/5fcBpdyrS0c
youtu.be/5fcBpdyrS0c
Reposted by Sightline Institute
"WA’s climate ambitions hang on poles and wires. Electric transmission lines make it possible to carry cheap, efficient, reliable power from solar fields in CA or wind farms in MT to the people in Washington who rely on it every day"
#WALeg
@Sightline.org
www.sightline.org/2025/12/18/h...
#WALeg
@Sightline.org
www.sightline.org/2025/12/18/h...
How the 2026 Washington Legislature Can Right-Size the Power Grid | Sightline Institute
A transmission authority, plus three other ideas, to speed development of the transmission lines Washingtonians needed yesterday.
www.sightline.org
December 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
"WA’s climate ambitions hang on poles and wires. Electric transmission lines make it possible to carry cheap, efficient, reliable power from solar fields in CA or wind farms in MT to the people in Washington who rely on it every day"
#WALeg
@Sightline.org
www.sightline.org/2025/12/18/h...
#WALeg
@Sightline.org
www.sightline.org/2025/12/18/h...
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Excited to add @sightline.org to this coalition letter declaring it "unacceptable that it costs up to five times more in the United States than in Europe to build and maintain an elevator" & advancing specific solutions.
Your org should probably join too! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Your org should probably join too! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
December 18, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Excited to add @sightline.org to this coalition letter declaring it "unacceptable that it costs up to five times more in the United States than in Europe to build and maintain an elevator" & advancing specific solutions.
Your org should probably join too! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Your org should probably join too! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
WA needs poles and wires in the ground, fast.
State leaders can step up by creating a transmission authority, removing redundancies in project approval processes, focusing enviro analysis, and other recs from @emilymoore.bsky.social and @ktrumbull.bsky.social
State leaders can step up by creating a transmission authority, removing redundancies in project approval processes, focusing enviro analysis, and other recs from @emilymoore.bsky.social and @ktrumbull.bsky.social
How the 2026 Washington Legislature Can Right-Size the Power Grid | Sightline Institute
A transmission authority, plus three other ideas, to speed development of the transmission lines Washingtonians needed yesterday.
www.sightline.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
WA needs poles and wires in the ground, fast.
State leaders can step up by creating a transmission authority, removing redundancies in project approval processes, focusing enviro analysis, and other recs from @emilymoore.bsky.social and @ktrumbull.bsky.social
State leaders can step up by creating a transmission authority, removing redundancies in project approval processes, focusing enviro analysis, and other recs from @emilymoore.bsky.social and @ktrumbull.bsky.social
Reposted by Sightline Institute
“Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on Ranked Choice Voting”
In this study, we assess the quality/credibility of 41 different studies on RCV. A number of misleading studies, including by well-known political scientists, fall well short of real "science"
democracysos.substack.com/p/shaky-poli...
In this study, we assess the quality/credibility of 41 different studies on RCV. A number of misleading studies, including by well-known political scientists, fall well short of real "science"
democracysos.substack.com/p/shaky-poli...
Shaky political “science” misses mark on ranked choice voting
What does political science and social science research say about ranked choice voting? A number of misleading studies fall well short of real science
democracysos.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
“Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on Ranked Choice Voting”
In this study, we assess the quality/credibility of 41 different studies on RCV. A number of misleading studies, including by well-known political scientists, fall well short of real "science"
democracysos.substack.com/p/shaky-poli...
In this study, we assess the quality/credibility of 41 different studies on RCV. A number of misleading studies, including by well-known political scientists, fall well short of real "science"
democracysos.substack.com/p/shaky-poli...
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Climate change primed Washington state for historic flooding
Climate change primed Washington state for historic flooding
Low snowpack, leftover burn scars, and abnormally warm temperatures are supercharging the atmospheric rivers hitting the Pacific Northwest.
dlvr.it
December 16, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Climate change primed Washington state for historic flooding
Why has Portland been able to do what San Francisco can’t?
Bc of years of "big tent" organizing by @pnwelcome.bsky.social @1000oregon.bsky.social + lots more.
by @xianleonard.bsky.social for @sfchronicle.com
Bc of years of "big tent" organizing by @pnwelcome.bsky.social @1000oregon.bsky.social + lots more.
by @xianleonard.bsky.social for @sfchronicle.com
This liberal city sees San Francisco as a role model — for home building failure
While prices for starter homes in San Francisco have surged, Portland has seemingly found the key to produce “missing middle” houses for first-time buyers.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Why has Portland been able to do what San Francisco can’t?
Bc of years of "big tent" organizing by @pnwelcome.bsky.social @1000oregon.bsky.social + lots more.
by @xianleonard.bsky.social for @sfchronicle.com
Bc of years of "big tent" organizing by @pnwelcome.bsky.social @1000oregon.bsky.social + lots more.
by @xianleonard.bsky.social for @sfchronicle.com
The math problem has a simple solution: #RankedChoiceVoting in a top-two primary: www.sightline.org/2025/11/11/w...
California Dems confront a star-power vacuum — and a big math problem
California Dems confront a star-power vacuum — and a big math problem
The prospect of a humiliating pile-up in the governor's race has put the state’s political class increasingly on edge.
dlvr.it
December 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The math problem has a simple solution: #RankedChoiceVoting in a top-two primary: www.sightline.org/2025/11/11/w...
