John Ryan
Environment Reporter
About
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and became its environment reporter in 2018. He focuses on climate change, energy, and the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region. He has also investigated toxic air pollution, landslides, failed cleanups, and money in politics for KUOW.
Over a quarter century as an environmental journalist, John has covered everything from Arctic drilling to Indonesian reef bombing. He has been a reporter at NPR stations in southeast and southwest Alaska (KTOO-Juneau and KUCB-Unalaska) and at the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.
John’s stories have won multiple national awards for KUOW, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi awards for Public Service in Radio Journalism and for Investigative Reporting, national Edward R. Murrow and PMJA/PRNDI awards for coverage of breaking news, and Society of Environmental Journalists awards for in-depth reporting.
John welcomes tips, documents, and feedback. Reach him at jryan@kuow.org or for secure, encrypted communication, he's at heyjohnryan@protonmail.com or 1-401-405-1206 on the Signal messaging app.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, some Spanish, some Indonesian
Professional Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA union member and former shop steward; Society of Environmental Journalists member and mentor
Stories
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Environment
Sourdough Fire takes bite out of Seattle’s electricity supplies
Seattle’s power utility has had to cut energy production at its Skagit River dams in half as the Sourdough Fire has forced workers at one of Seattle’s main energy sources to evacuate.
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Environment
Tribes call for national ban on salmon-killing chemical in car tires
Three Northwest tribes have petitioned the federal government to ban a salmon-killing chemical found in tires and urban streams worldwide.
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Environment
Ocean heat wave comes to Pacific Northwest shores
An ocean heat wave has come ashore in the Pacific Northwest.
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Environment
Electric vehicle sales accelerate in Washington state
One in six new cars sold in Washington since January can plug into a power outlet.
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Environment
Congress moves to mandate leaded fuel sales
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to require airports to keep selling leaded aviation fuel. The small-plane fuel is the biggest source of airborne lead pollution in Washington and nationwide.
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Environment
Road trip! Kicking the tires on electric travel in the Northwest
It's a long drive from Seattle, and I'm nervous about recharging once I've left the big city for mountains and sagebrush, but let’s go!
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Environment
Inner tubes are out with ban to save Nooksack River salmon
The Whatcom County Council has banned inner-tubing on the South Fork Nooksack River to protect endangered Chinook salmon there.
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Environment
Endangered salmon in Whatcom Co. could have fewer disturbances this summer
The county council has banned inner-tubing on the South Fork Nooksack River to protect Chinook salmon there.
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Environment
Puget Sound's biggest bat colony could be big loser of dam-removal project
What may be the largest colony of bats in Western Washington, already threatened by a deadly fungus, faces a new threat — the proposed removal of a 70-year old dam that created Capitol Lake in Olympia.
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Environment
Can Seattle take the heat? Officials say area is better prepared this summer
It takes about 10 days for a person to adjust to heat. It could take years to make the region thoroughly heatproof.