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

( 1 ) Educating for the Utica

Stark State is moving ahead with its expansion plans, according to the Canton Repository. The college is purchasing a building for the Downtown Canton Satellite Center and Energy Institute.

The idea is to create an educated workforce for the drilling of oil and gas in the Utica Shale.

» Via: The Canton Repository› Stark State energy campus offers “room to grow”

( 2 ) Water Quality Database Created, but Not for the Public

According to the Ellwood City Ledger, a shale-drilling industry group has created a database of water quality before drilling occurs for Pennsylvania’s water wells, but it’s not available to the public.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition compiled the data over the last two years. The data is available to Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the Department of Environmental Protection. According to the report, those with access to the data must sign a confidentiality agreement.

Plans are being made to make the data public.

» Via: The Ellwood City Ledger › Water quality database created, but not available to the public

( 3 ) Shale Money Could Reduce Assessments

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is no stranger to the shale gas boom in Ohio’s Utica shale. Because of the money coming into the district, it may reduce assessments paid by 500,000 property owners, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

The decision will depend on how much money the district collects from bonuses and gas royalties.

Nearly 26,000 property owners in Summit, 136,000 in Stark and 16,000 in Wayne County could be affected.

» Via: The Akron Beacon Journal › Shale money could result in reduced assessments for 500,000 property owners

( 4 ) Oil Reserves Highest Since 1931

The United States now has more oil storage than any time since 1931, according to Value Walk, which reported on statistics released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Read the report

Much of the supply is due to the Eagle Ford shale in South Texas and the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania. Because of the new supply, the price of U.S. oil is less than $100 per barrel.

» Via: Value Walk › US Oil Reserves Highest Since 1931

( 5 ) State Rep. Trolling Shale Gas Supporters?

Shale gas oftentimes sparks heated debate, but one state Representative may have taken the debate a bit far, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

It’s suspected that state Rep. Jessee White, who is known for his anti-drilling stance, was commenting on Energy InDepth’s website under an alias.

It wasn’t that he was commenting under an alias, it’s that the alias was Lizzie Cowden, a name very similar to Elizabeth Cowden, a supporter of drilling.

Get the whole story at CBS Pittsburgh.

» Via: CBS Pittsburgh› State Rep. Accused Of Attacking Shale Supporters Issues Apology