Here’s this week’s top shale gas stories:

Drilling Fees Generate $5M, Ease Housing Shortage

According to Triblive.com, Pennsylvania is looking to spend $5 million in fees generated from Marcellus shale drillers to ease housing shortages in areas that are flooded with shale drilling workers. The money is administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

Robbie Matesic, executive director of economic development for Green County, said rents have doubled or tripled for single-family units because of the demand for housing.  Rising rents are tougher on the poorest residents in shale country. At least a third of the funds will go to help the poorest residents.

» Via: Triblive.com › Marcellus gas drilling fees generate $5M to ease housing shortages

Show me the Money

Cleveland State University released its study on the economic impact of the shale gas movement in Ohio. The study, by Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, analyzed local sales receipts and total employment in areas with the greatest amount of shale gas activity.

Though employment growth in shale gas counties is not yet evident, total retail sales in shale gas counties increased 21.1 percent.

» Via: The Akron Beacon Journal› Economic activity climbing in Ohio shale counties, study says

Judge wants Records Unsealed

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a Washington County judge ordered unsealed a settlement between Marcellus shale development companies and family that claimed shale development damaged their health.

The family, Stephanie and Chris Hallowich, filed a suit against Range Resources, MarkWest Energy and Williams Gas/Laurel Mountain Midstream in 2010. Before the complaint made it to court, the case was settled.

» Via: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette› Washington County judge orders Marcellus Shale development settlement records unsealed 

A $750,000 Settlement 

The documents, ordered unsealed by President Judge Debbie O’Dell-Senece, revealed that Range Resources, MarkWest Energy and Williams Gas/Laurel Mountain Midstream, settled the high-profile contamination case in Washington, County for $750,000.

StateImpact Pennsylvania obtained the documents and posted all 971 pages online.

» Via: StateImpact Pennsylvania› Drilling Companies Agree to Settle Fracking Contamination Cast for $750,000