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
Climate-friendly heat pumps are not cheap. Rebates can help
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Environment
Fuel, heat, drought, wind: Recipe for big Spokane wildfires
"The hotter and drier it is, the more intense the wildfire.”
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Environment
Perseid meteor shower casualties: Mount Rainier wildflowers
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Environment
Sourdough Fire consumes another 1,000 acres, cuts dam power to Seattle
The rapidly growing fire forced Seattle City Light to disconnect two dams from the power grid that serves customers in the Seattle area.
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Environment
Power production resumes at Skagit dams near Sourdough Fire
Seattle City Light has resumed power generation at two dams on the Skagit River as the Sourdough Fire continues to burn in Washington’s North Cascades.
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Environment
2 rambunctious youngsters, no dying elders might spell hope for NW orcas
Whale researchers say the Northwest’s endangered orcas have apparently had a very good year.
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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.