U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, vowed to continue efforts to have a Shell ethane-fed cracker plant locate in Western Pennsylvania.Altmire last week sent a letter to Shell Oil President, Marvin Odum, which the congressman said highlighted the benefits of constructing the new facility in the region.“As you know,” the letter said, “Marcellus Shale is abundant in the region, and Pennsylvania is anxious to gain from the tremendous promise it holds for job creation and the economy. There is currently no infrastructure in the northeast that can process the natural gas co-product.“Building the Shell plant in Western Pennsylvania would allow the company to produce ethane from its own wells, as well as work exclusively with other producers in the region.”Shell last year announced it plans to build a cracker plant that would process the ethane from Marcellus Shale natural gas in the Appalachian region, but it has not yet decided where to build it.A cracker breaks down large molecules from oil and natural gas into smaller ones that are used to manufacture chemicals.Industry experts said the plant can easily cost more than $1 billion and employ at least 200 workers. Shell said the plant would unlock significant gas production in the Marcellus region and help fuel jobs in other industries.———The state Senate this month approved legislation introduced by Sen.

Don White, R-41st, that would provide new opportunities for Pennsylvania’s 14-member State System of Higher Education to offer advanced degrees.The measure would allow the member universities to offer applied doctorate degrees, a level of education currently only available at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.White and state system officials stress the expansion will not impact IUP, but rather modernize the entire system to make it more competitive and attract more students.He said, “This flexibility will enable SSHE to attract and keep more high-quality students who are looking toward these advanced degrees.”This would include Slippery Rock University.———High school seniors may apply for a Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship to help cover their higher education, state Rep.

Dick Stevenson, R-8th, announced Thursday.Each year, two students are awarded four-year scholarships. The program is privately funded.The program is for graduating seniors who plan to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student. Students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.A student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need are taken into consideration.The scholarship program is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. To apply, interested students should visit www.DickStevenson.com and click on House Scholarship Information.The application deadline is March 1.