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
This is why CA needs ranked top two. They're susceptible to the same misfire glitch as WA state: www.sightline.org/2025/11/11/w...
From @politicalpolls.bsky.social⬇️
From @politicalpolls.bsky.social⬇️
December 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
This is why CA needs ranked top two. They're susceptible to the same misfire glitch as WA state: www.sightline.org/2025/11/11/w...
From @politicalpolls.bsky.social⬇️
From @politicalpolls.bsky.social⬇️
Upgrading houses, condos, and apartments with efficient appliances, solar panels, and batteries could create enough capacity to meet the rising electricity demand of large data centers over the next five years. @rewiringamerica.bsky.social
Homegrown Energy jobs | Rewiring America
Upgrading home appliances, solar, and storage can meet rising data center demand while creating up to a million local jobs each year nationwide.
www.rewiringamerica.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Upgrading houses, condos, and apartments with efficient appliances, solar panels, and batteries could create enough capacity to meet the rising electricity demand of large data centers over the next five years. @rewiringamerica.bsky.social
it passed unanimously last night! 🎊
- 3-4 story apartments will be more widely legal, esp. on smaller lots in neighborhoods already served by roads/pipes
- builders will have new incentives for accessible & affordable homes
- OR will have the first statewide model zoning code in the nation
- 3-4 story apartments will be more widely legal, esp. on smaller lots in neighborhoods already served by roads/pipes
- builders will have new incentives for accessible & affordable homes
- OR will have the first statewide model zoning code in the nation
Today, 2.5 years after an OR bill promised “transformational” changes to state housing policy, the new OHNA rules get a vote.
@andersem.bsky.social breaks down what’s inside the blueprint: www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
@andersem.bsky.social breaks down what’s inside the blueprint: www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
New Oregon Rules Will Re-Legalize Neighborhood Apartments | Sightline Institute
Over time, the state zoning standards make space for tens of thousands more homes in Oregon cities.
www.sightline.org
December 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
it passed unanimously last night! 🎊
- 3-4 story apartments will be more widely legal, esp. on smaller lots in neighborhoods already served by roads/pipes
- builders will have new incentives for accessible & affordable homes
- OR will have the first statewide model zoning code in the nation
- 3-4 story apartments will be more widely legal, esp. on smaller lots in neighborhoods already served by roads/pipes
- builders will have new incentives for accessible & affordable homes
- OR will have the first statewide model zoning code in the nation
Reposted by Sightline Institute
After Portland made improvements in 2024 (FUNDED, finally www.sightline.org/2024/10/28/t...), the program is starting to work as intended. New data shows projects are no longer underbuilding to avoid the mandate:
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
After Portland made improvements in 2024 (FUNDED, finally www.sightline.org/2024/10/28/t...), the program is starting to work as intended. New data shows projects are no longer underbuilding to avoid the mandate:
"If you want candidates who come from outside the system and aren’t puppets of big donors and corrupt political machines, then you should get behind the nonpartisan movement to publicly finance the elections in your community, your state, and your country." @davidsirota.com @thenation.com
The Real Lesson From Zohran Mamdani’s Ascent
The decisive factor isn’t his ads or charisma. It is the public financing of election campaigns, and it should be replicated across the United States.
www.thenation.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
"If you want candidates who come from outside the system and aren’t puppets of big donors and corrupt political machines, then you should get behind the nonpartisan movement to publicly finance the elections in your community, your state, and your country." @davidsirota.com @thenation.com
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Sluggish transmission projects inflate electricity bills and strand renewable energy. @Sightline.org www.sightline.org/2025/11/20/t...
The High Cost of Slow Permitting | Sightline Institute
Sluggish approval of Cascadian transmission projects inflates electricity bills and strands renewable energy.
www.sightline.org
December 4, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Sluggish transmission projects inflate electricity bills and strand renewable energy. @Sightline.org www.sightline.org/2025/11/20/t...
Reposted by Sightline Institute
"the new housing production rules would make Oregon the first US state or Canadian province to create a model statewide zoning code and then apply that statewide code to cities underperforming their peers."
www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
New Oregon Rules Will Re-Legalize Neighborhood Apartments | Sightline Institute
Over time, the state zoning standards make space for tens of thousands more homes in Oregon cities.
www.sightline.org
December 4, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"the new housing production rules would make Oregon the first US state or Canadian province to create a model statewide zoning code and then apply that statewide code to cities underperforming their peers."
www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
Today, 2.5 years after an OR bill promised “transformational” changes to state housing policy, the new OHNA rules get a vote.
@andersem.bsky.social breaks down what’s inside the blueprint: www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
@andersem.bsky.social breaks down what’s inside the blueprint: www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
New Oregon Rules Will Re-Legalize Neighborhood Apartments | Sightline Institute
Over time, the state zoning standards make space for tens of thousands more homes in Oregon cities.
www.sightline.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Today, 2.5 years after an OR bill promised “transformational” changes to state housing policy, the new OHNA rules get a vote.
@andersem.bsky.social breaks down what’s inside the blueprint: www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
@andersem.bsky.social breaks down what’s inside the blueprint: www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Tomorrow, Oregon is poised to approve the nation's first statewide model zoning code + become the first state to make it mandatory in cities that underperform their peers on housing production www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
New Oregon Rules Will Re-Legalize Neighborhood Apartments | Sightline Institute
Over time, the state zoning standards make space for tens of thousands more homes in Oregon cities.
www.sightline.org
December 3, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Tomorrow, Oregon is poised to approve the nation's first statewide model zoning code + become the first state to make it mandatory in cities that underperform their peers on housing production www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
Snow is melting faster in 99% of burn areas - bad news for forest health but especially for farms, cities and species downstream.
By @mitchtobin.bsky.social for @insideclimatenews.org
By @mitchtobin.bsky.social for @insideclimatenews.org
In Burned Forests, the West’s Snowpack Is Melting Earlier - Inside Climate News
As blazes expand to higher elevations, the impacts cascade downstream.
insideclimatenews.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Snow is melting faster in 99% of burn areas - bad news for forest health but especially for farms, cities and species downstream.
By @mitchtobin.bsky.social for @insideclimatenews.org
By @mitchtobin.bsky.social for @insideclimatenews.org
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Come hear my brilliant @sightline.org colleague @trufahey.bsky.social share new research on how to talk about parking reform! This Wednesday afternoon, 12/3, w @dpherriges.bsky.social @jamalraad.bsky.social @parkingreform.org
Introducing the Parking Reform Messaging Guide · Zoom · Luma
The Parking Reform Network has partnered with the Welcoming Neighbors Network and Sightline Institute to create a new, research-backed guide to crafting…
luma.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Come hear my brilliant @sightline.org colleague @trufahey.bsky.social share new research on how to talk about parking reform! This Wednesday afternoon, 12/3, w @dpherriges.bsky.social @jamalraad.bsky.social @parkingreform.org
Reposted by Sightline Institute
The U.S. ties rents in regulated-affordable apartments to average income. So when avg incomes rise, rents in subsidized buildings do too.
Portland's rental vacancy rate has been 8% for 2 years. That's kept market rents flat.
Combine those: an affordable home is barely cheaper than a market one.
Portland's rental vacancy rate has been 8% for 2 years. That's kept market rents flat.
Combine those: an affordable home is barely cheaper than a market one.
Nearly 1,900 affordable Portland apartments sit empty while thousands need homes
“Even affordable rents are too high,” one affordable housing provider told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
www.oregonlive.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The U.S. ties rents in regulated-affordable apartments to average income. So when avg incomes rise, rents in subsidized buildings do too.
Portland's rental vacancy rate has been 8% for 2 years. That's kept market rents flat.
Combine those: an affordable home is barely cheaper than a market one.
Portland's rental vacancy rate has been 8% for 2 years. That's kept market rents flat.
Combine those: an affordable home is barely cheaper than a market one.
Fall Fund Drive ends today! This #GivingTuesday, power work that will last for generations. Help us hit our goal: Sightline.org/Fall-Fund-Drive
December 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Fall Fund Drive ends today! This #GivingTuesday, power work that will last for generations. Help us hit our goal: Sightline.org/Fall-Fund-Drive
This morning's top headline, from @conorswanson.bsky.social @seattletimes.com: A new dashboard of the 3,600+ projects funded by WA's CCA.
(Subscribe to News Picks here: sightline.org/newsletters/)
(Subscribe to News Picks here: sightline.org/newsletters/)
WA releases detailed list of projects funded by Climate Commitment Act
A new state report shows how some of the $3 billion raised so far in CCA funds is being used in more than 3,600 projects around the state.
www.seattletimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:31 PM
This morning's top headline, from @conorswanson.bsky.social @seattletimes.com: A new dashboard of the 3,600+ projects funded by WA's CCA.
(Subscribe to News Picks here: sightline.org/newsletters/)
(Subscribe to News Picks here: sightline.org/newsletters/)
Reposted by Sightline Institute
“… one of the things that immediately jumped off the page for me when I was reading your book is the fact that, by square footage, there is more housing for each car in this country than there is housing for each person.”
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
How parking explains everything : Consider This from NPR
No matter how you measure it, there is a lot of parking in the U.S. According to some estimates there are as many as six parking spaces for every car. Put another way, America devotes more square foot...
www.npr.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:46 AM
“… one of the things that immediately jumped off the page for me when I was reading your book is the fact that, by square footage, there is more housing for each car in this country than there is housing for each person.”
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
On Friday, join @parkingreform.org and @strongtowns.org in the #BlackFridayParking tradition of documenting vacant spots on the biggest shopping day of the year.
If there's even unused parking when demand is at its peak, why are we saddling our cities with all this asphalt 365 days a year?
If there's even unused parking when demand is at its peak, why are we saddling our cities with all this asphalt 365 days a year?
Ross at the Grove on Black Friday - one of the densest neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
#BlackFridayParking
#BlackFridayParking
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
On Friday, join @parkingreform.org and @strongtowns.org in the #BlackFridayParking tradition of documenting vacant spots on the biggest shopping day of the year.
If there's even unused parking when demand is at its peak, why are we saddling our cities with all this asphalt 365 days a year?
If there's even unused parking when demand is at its peak, why are we saddling our cities with all this asphalt 365 days a year?
Cascadians want cleaner, more reliable, more affordable energy.
Help us rise to the challenge? sightline.org/Fall-Fund-Drive
Help us rise to the challenge? sightline.org/Fall-Fund-Drive
It takes forever to build power lines and these permitting holdups don't come cheap. Consumers suffer through higher electricity bills and dirtier, less reliable power—but utilities actually make money on project delays. Like, a lot of money.
The High Cost of Slow Permitting | Sightline Institute
Sluggish approval of Cascadian transmission projects inflates electricity bills and strands renewable energy.
www.sightline.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Cascadians want cleaner, more reliable, more affordable energy.
Help us rise to the challenge? sightline.org/Fall-Fund-Drive
Help us rise to the challenge? sightline.org/Fall-Fund-Drive
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Good news: New data suggest that Portland's inclusionary zoning program is finally working as intended, after being fully funded in 2024 www.sightline.org/2025/11/25/p...
Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning Program Is Finally Performing, New Data Suggests | Sightline Institute
Because for the first time, the city fully funded it.
www.sightline.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Good news: New data suggest that Portland's inclusionary zoning program is finally working as intended, after being fully funded in 2024 www.sightline.org/2025/11/25/p...
Reposted by Sightline Institute
The lesson: mandatory inclusionary zoning really has to be funded for it to work.
From 2017 - 2024, #PortlandOR’s inclusionary zoning program wasn’t working.
“The city had ordered that at least 10% of new apartments be affordable,” writes @andersem.bsky.social, “but it turned out that 10% of a small number was also a small number.”
“The city had ordered that at least 10% of new apartments be affordable,” writes @andersem.bsky.social, “but it turned out that 10% of a small number was also a small number.”
Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning Program Is Finally Performing, New Data Suggests | Sightline Institute
Because for the first time, the city fully funded it.
www.sightline.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The lesson: mandatory inclusionary zoning really has to be funded for it to work.
From 2017 - 2024, #PortlandOR’s inclusionary zoning program wasn’t working.
“The city had ordered that at least 10% of new apartments be affordable,” writes @andersem.bsky.social, “but it turned out that 10% of a small number was also a small number.”
“The city had ordered that at least 10% of new apartments be affordable,” writes @andersem.bsky.social, “but it turned out that 10% of a small number was also a small number.”
Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning Program Is Finally Performing, New Data Suggests | Sightline Institute
Because for the first time, the city fully funded it.
www.sightline.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
From 2017 - 2024, #PortlandOR’s inclusionary zoning program wasn’t working.
“The city had ordered that at least 10% of new apartments be affordable,” writes @andersem.bsky.social, “but it turned out that 10% of a small number was also a small number.”
“The city had ordered that at least 10% of new apartments be affordable,” writes @andersem.bsky.social, “but it turned out that 10% of a small number was also a small number.”
This year, Shannon helped renew Seattle's pioneering Democracy Voucher Program, which will continue to curb the electoral influence of big money for the next 10 years. That's good news for our mission — and for Seattle. ☝️ Join us: sightline.org/fall-fund-drive
November 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
This year, Shannon helped renew Seattle's pioneering Democracy Voucher Program, which will continue to curb the electoral influence of big money for the next 10 years. That's good news for our mission — and for Seattle. ☝️ Join us: sightline.org/fall-fund-drive
Reposted by Sightline Institute
"Only Serious Candidates, Please"
Alan Durning from @sightline.org proposes commonsense reform. By raising signature requirements and/or filing fees for candidates,voters will enjoy electoral choice w/o having to sift through non-serious pretender candidates
democracysos.substack.com/p/commonsens...
Alan Durning from @sightline.org proposes commonsense reform. By raising signature requirements and/or filing fees for candidates,voters will enjoy electoral choice w/o having to sift through non-serious pretender candidates
democracysos.substack.com/p/commonsens...
Commonsense reform: only serious candidates, please
By raising signature requirements and/or filing fees for candidates, voters will enjoy electoral choice without having to sift through non-serious pretender candidates
democracysos.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
"Only Serious Candidates, Please"
Alan Durning from @sightline.org proposes commonsense reform. By raising signature requirements and/or filing fees for candidates,voters will enjoy electoral choice w/o having to sift through non-serious pretender candidates
democracysos.substack.com/p/commonsens...
Alan Durning from @sightline.org proposes commonsense reform. By raising signature requirements and/or filing fees for candidates,voters will enjoy electoral choice w/o having to sift through non-serious pretender candidates
democracysos.substack.com/p/commonsens...
Reposted by Sightline Institute
Transit “speedrunning” started in 1960 with the “Tube Challenge”, a Guinness world record on London’s underground system. In the 65 years since, it’s spread around the world to transit systems of all sizes, now generically called a “speedrun.”
Wilsonville math teacher rides to all 95 MAX stations for world record
Marty Valentine became the first person with an official record for a TriMet MAX "speedrun."
www.opb.org
November 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Transit “speedrunning” started in 1960 with the “Tube Challenge”, a Guinness world record on London’s underground system. In the 65 years since, it’s spread around the world to transit systems of all sizes, now generically called a “speedrun.”
Reposted by Sightline Institute
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
‘An incredible privilege and a daunting task’: Oregon tribe harvests beached whale for the first time in generations
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
www.oregonlive.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:30 AM
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
Let’s email 🤓 Want to be first to view our latest research, hear directly from our program leads, or stay informed with our hand-picked news service? We’ve got you: sightline.org/newsletters
November 21, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Let’s email 🤓 Want to be first to view our latest research, hear directly from our program leads, or stay informed with our hand-picked news service? We’ve got you: sightline.org/newsletters