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Latest Research
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Idaho’s Big Housing Breakthrough Year
From ADUs to starter homes, lot splits to ‘manufactured in Idaho,’ Gem State leaders just opened up more housing options in a price-crunched state.
Missoula’s Zoning Reform Raises the Bar for Small Cities
The western Montana town of 80,000 just overhauled its outdated code and legalized more homes in every neighborhood.
Washington State Did Something Big for the Power Grid—Oregon Could Be Next
Washington’s new transmission authority can help plan, build, and finance the power lines necessary for harnessing clean energy.
Five Ways Election Reform Has Revamped Alaska Politics
Open primaries and ranked choice voting are no longer new but are still delivering for voters and leaders alike.
Four Ways to Get More Power Lines—and Clean Power—for Oregonians
Oregon may be one of the hardest places to build transmission lines. Here’s how to change that.
The Northwest Hasn’t Learned the Lessons of WPPSS (“Whoops”)
How overreliance on one grid study could drive a fossil fuel comeback in the Northwest.
Washington State Did Something Big for the Power Grid—Oregon Could Be Next
Washington’s new transmission authority can help plan, build, and finance the power lines necessary for harnessing clean energy.
Four Ways to Get More Power Lines—and Clean Power—for Oregonians
Oregon may be one of the hardest places to build transmission lines. Here’s how to change that.
The Northwest Hasn’t Learned the Lessons of WPPSS (“Whoops”)
How overreliance on one grid study could drive a fossil fuel comeback in the Northwest.
11% of Northwest Residents Live in Fire Country; 100% Pay the Price
1.6 million people live in high hazard areas. As the region continues to build in flammable landscapes, policymakers can protect communities with smarter building choices and the truth about rising risk.
Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters
New programs for heat pumps, induction stoves, and plug-in solar would let renters reap the rewards of the clean energy revolution.
How the 2026 Washington Legislature Can Right-Size the Power Grid
A transmission authority, plus three other ideas, to speed development of the transmission lines Washingtonians needed yesterday.
Five Ways Election Reform Has Revamped Alaska Politics
Open primaries and ranked choice voting are no longer new but are still delivering for voters and leaders alike.
Video: Proportional Representation, Explained
What it looks like when voters get a fair share of the seats at the table.
Ranked Choice Voting, the Utah Way
How a conservative state piloted better elections for voters—lessons from four of the movement’s leaders.
Districts Won’t Truly Represent Deschutes County Residents
Proportional representation can better reflect voters’ views than arbitrary lines.
A Charter Commissioner’s Guide to Election Reform
Sightline asked former commissioners for their best advice. Here’s what they had to say.
A Two-Word Fix for Alaska’s Ballot Confusion
Letting parties tag their nominees would make Alaska’s elections clearer, fairer, and harder to hijack by disingenuous candidates.
Idaho’s Big Housing Breakthrough Year
From ADUs to starter homes, lot splits to ‘manufactured in Idaho,’ Gem State leaders just opened up more housing options in a price-crunched state.
Missoula’s Zoning Reform Raises the Bar for Small Cities
The western Montana town of 80,000 just overhauled its outdated code and legalized more homes in every neighborhood.
Washington State Leads on Elevator Reform
SB 5156 opens the door to lower-cost, smaller elevators in new apartment and condo buildings—and more accessibility for residents.
Washington Just Passed First-in-the-US Flexibility for Ground-Floor Retail
It’s part of a new law to legalize more apartment homes in commercial zones.
Oregon’s New Path to Inclusionary Housing: Fully Funded and Flexible
An environmental justice champion led the push to end counterproductive, unfunded mandates.
Seattle’s No-Cost Emissions Cut
The climate benefits of urban neighborhoods, all for the low price of letting people live where they want.
Idaho’s Big Housing Breakthrough Year
From ADUs to starter homes, lot splits to ‘manufactured in Idaho,’ Gem State leaders just opened up more housing options in a price-crunched state.
Missoula’s Zoning Reform Raises the Bar for Small Cities
The western Montana town of 80,000 just overhauled its outdated code and legalized more homes in every neighborhood.
Washington State Leads on Elevator Reform
SB 5156 opens the door to lower-cost, smaller elevators in new apartment and condo buildings—and more accessibility for residents.
Washington Just Passed First-in-the-US Flexibility for Ground-Floor Retail
It’s part of a new law to legalize more apartment homes in commercial zones.
Oregon’s New Path to Inclusionary Housing: Fully Funded and Flexible
An environmental justice champion led the push to end counterproductive, unfunded mandates.
Seattle’s No-Cost Emissions Cut
The climate benefits of urban neighborhoods, all for the low price of letting people live where they want.
Video
Proportional Representation, Explained | What it looks like when voters get a fair share of the seats at the table—in under two minutes.
Watch the videoFeatured report
Fire Hazard: The Mounting Costs of Northwest Sprawl | Honest information about homes’ fire risk can forge the way for more transformative changes to build out of harm’s way.
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