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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Trump energy department axes funding for Northwest hydrogen hub
The Trump administration announced Wednesday night, the first night of the federal government shutdown, that it is revoking $7.6 billion in funding for clean-energy projects in 16 Democratic-leaning states, including a $1 billion cut to the Pacific Northwest’s multi-state hydrogen hub.
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How will the government shutdown hit Washington state? It depends
As Washington state braces for the first shutdown since 2019 — the longest in history at 35 days — a number of state and federal governments announced their operations would be unaffected. But at some agencies, impacts are still a question-mark — particularly the longer the shutdown lasts.
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Saving Puget Sound's puffins: Bringing these ocean ambassadors back from the brink
Tufted puffins are endangered in Washington state, and researchers hope to boost their sagging population there, currently estimated at 2,500 birds statewide.
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Washington sees 11th-hour rush to buy EVs before tax incentive disappears
Washington's electric vehicle sales have mostly sagged in 2025. But with federal tax breaks for purchasing electric vehicles disappearing at the end of September, interest in plug-in vehicles has surged — at least temporarily.
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Glacierless Peak? The icy realms of Washington’s North Cascades lose their cool
The ice fields that give Washington’s Glacier Peak its name are disappearing, though few people may have noticed.
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Newborn orca spotted with Northwest's endangered J Pod
The orca J pod has been very active in Central Puget Sound waters Friday, and they've got reason to be animated: There's a new calf.
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Orca mom carries dead newborn calf in San Juans
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Many older forests spared by Washington state order. Others to be logged
An executive order by Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove has put 77,000 acres of older forests off-limits to logging.
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Plan to return grizzlies to the North Cascades appears to be in hibernation
A federal plan to bring grizzly bears back to Washington's North Cascades appears to have gone into hibernation under the Trump administration.
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Smoke, sprinklers, aluminum foil: Fighting fire on the Olympic Peninsula
Extreme heat launched the Bear Gulch Fire across 2,000 additional acres of forest on Tuesday and Wednesday, pouring thick smoke on the Hood Canal communities of Hoodsport and Skokomish, Washington.
