Earthquakes linked to fracking in 17 regions of U.S.

OIL & GAS:
• The U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday released its first comprehensive assessment of the link between thousands of earthquakes and oil and gas operations in 17 regions. (The New York Times)
• Between 2000 and 2012, about 7 million acres of agricultural, range and forest land was given over to drilling for oil and gas, according to a new study. (Midwest Energy News)
• Oklahoma’s state House approved on Wednesday approved two bills designed to limit local restrictions on oil and gas operations. (Tulsa World)

INVESTMENT: Oil and natural gas companies that fail to consider the risks of a warmer planet and cheaper fossil fuels are jeopardizing shareholder value, according to a new report. (Bloomberg)

CARBON CAPTURE:
• The U.S. Department of Energy announced the safe capture of 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from projects supported by the department through carbon capture and storage. (Fierce Energy)
• Eugene, Oregon’s city council voted 5-2 Wednesday to ask state lawmakers to develop a ​“carbon pricing policy” for the state. (The Register-Guard)

CARBON TAX: A Democratic Maryland congressman told an audience at a conservative think tank Wednesday that he’s drafting a bill for a tax carbon that could lead to the repeal of EPA emissions constraints for power plans. (ClimateWire)

APPROPRIATIONS: The House Appropriations Committee announced a spending plan Wednesday that cuts $246 million from current funding of the U.S. Department of Interior, the Forest Service and the EPA. (E&E Daily)

OFFSHORE DRILLING: In a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Interior, 163 Republican members of Congress pushed for opening more of the outer continental shelf to offshore oil and gas drilling. (The Hill)

SOLAR: Six Senate Democrats are asking their colleagues to double the capacity of a new federal program that trains military veterans for the solar power industry. (The Hill)

PRESIDENTIAL RACE: Hillary Clinton has offered few hints of her campaign agenda, and top oil company execs don’t know what to make of it. (National Journal)

EFFICIENCY: City councils in Atlanta City and Portland, Oregon, both passed ordinances requiring buildings to track and disclosure energy consumption. (FierceEnergy)

VIRGINIA: Virginia’s governor has signed into law six measures designed to help advance solar energy and energy efficiency in the state and extend a tax credit for green jobs. (Daily Press)

MICHIGAN: Michigan Democrats introduced legislation Thursday to double the state’s efficiency and renewable energy standards by 2022. (Midwest Energy News)

MAINE: Concessions and a promised veto loom over competing proposals to correct a one-word clerical error potentially worth $38 million for an energy-efficiency program popular with Maine homeowners and businesses. (The Portland Press Herald)

ASPEN: Aspen’s push to source its electric customers with 100 percent renewable energy could be realized by August, city officials told the city council on Tuesday. (The Aspen Times)