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Natural gas continues to change the global energy landscape, and has helped America lead the world in reducing emissions while providing reliable and affordable power.

Closer to home, natural gas in America has also made a positive impact in many regions and states across the country. From jobs to local investment in infrastructure to more affordable power for homes and businesses, there is nowhere in the United States where the positive effects of natural gas have not been felt.

But there is more we can do to unlock the potential of natural gas. Addressing the infrastructure shortfalls and government roadblocks surrounding natural gas development and distribution is imperative for states and regions to continue this momentum.

Continue reading to discover how natural gas works in different regions and states.

Colorado

Colorado has a well-established stakeholder process that has helped make our state the seventh largest producer of oil and natural gas in the country.

Connecticut

Nutmeggers understand the value in efficiency and that’s why Connecticut depends on natural gas. As a clean, affordable source of energy, natural gas is relied on by one-third of households within the state as their primary fuel for home heating.

Natural gas also gives back, benefitting consumers by contributing over $4 billion to the state economy in 2015, and supporting the employment of 33,000 residents. From home heating to the services and industries that support it, natural gas is making a big difference for Connecticut.

Delaware

The First State has always had an outsized influence on the rest of the nation, and natural gas helps to keep powering the way forward. From poultry farming to financial services, homemaking to real estate, Delaware’s industries have come to depend on the affordable, reliable energy produced from natural gas.

With almost 8,000 jobs related to the natural gas industry, and over $1 billion contributed to the state economy in 2015, natural gas is playing a big role in helping extend Delaware’s legacy.

Florida

Oil and natural gas support nearly every aspect of everyday life in the Sunshine State. From affordable modern conveniences like air conditioning and cell phones, to providing energy for Florida citrus farms, businesses, and schools, natural gas powers life in Florida. In fact, approximately 97% of the state’s population lives in counties that rely on natural gas, and Florida, as a state, consumes over 1,245 trillion Btu of natural gas annually.

However, even with this dependence on natural gas, the state produces less than 1% of the gas it uses. Nearly all of the natural gas that powers Florida comes into the state through two major interstate pipelines that deliver gas from other Gulf Coast states. These pipelines are critical for keeping energy costs low in the state.

When energy is more affordable and more available, more goods are produced, more jobs are created, more tax revenue is generated, and community programs and services are better funded.

Illinois

Illinois is a state poised to take advantage of the opportunities natural gas provides in emissions reductions and cost savings. That’s because natural gas represents almost a third of Illinois’s generating capacity, but contributed only 3 percent of the overall electricity that the state produced in 2015. That means there is a lot of room for natural gas to play a bigger role in Illinois’ future. An expanded focus on natural gas would also provide a significant boost to the state economy, and natural gas exploration in shale formations could create more than 47,000 jobs in Illinois. The state already benefits immensely from natural gas, and strong, educated natural gas legislation would continue to support the industry and people of Illinois.

Maine

Maine is a state of scenic beauty and hardworking perseverance, where its people find no distinction between innovating for the future and respecting a traditional way of life.

Affordable and reliable natural gas supports the Pine Tree State; it’s a clean, efficient alternative that is boosting Maine’s economy while protecting the delicate ecosystem the state works so hard to preserve.

Maryland

Maryland is a state of innovation and possibilities. Its people are always striving for better communities, better businesses and better lives.

Affordable and reliable energy supports these ambitions, and there is perhaps no greater opportunity for progress than increasing the production and use of natural gas in Maryland.

Natural gas has added nearly $5 billion in value to the Maryland economy while supporting over 38,000 jobs – both direct and induced – upholding Maryland as a great place for residents, businesses and entire industries.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts is looking out for its future generations, working to safeguard its environment and preserve the natural beauty of the state. Natural gas, consumed by over 1.6 million customers in Massachusetts, is the cleaner, more affordable energy choice on which Bay Staters rely.

With over 63,000 jobs related to natural gas in-state, and almost $8 billion in added value to Massachusetts’ economy, the economic impact of this industry provides assurance that this sustainable option for households, employers and businesses can continue to work for the state’s environment, just as much as it works for its people.

Michigan

Natural gas is playing a big role in helping extend Michigan’s proud legacy of manufacturing and technology while protecting the state’s rich natural beauty and creating jobs.

More than 17,000 Michiganders are employed in jobs directly related to natural gas – that’s nearly 3 percent of jobs statewide. And with over 3.5 million natural gas customers in 2015 alone, the economic benefits of natural gas to the Great Lake State totaled $16.75 billion dollars.

New England

Natural gas has delivered on the promise of clean, reliable and affordable energy from coast to coast. But in New England, the benefits of natural gas have been restrained. That’s because there isn’t enough basic infrastructure like pipelines and storage capacity to keep up with demand. And failure to fix these regional challenges can raise costs for families and businesses.

New England knows this all too well. The region’s residents paid up to 69 percent more for their electricity than the national average during the winter of 2014-2015, while its industrial sector paid up to 90 percent more.

The natural gas industry is ready to make the private investments needed to ensure consumers have the energy they need at a price they can afford, but we need regional government cooperation and decisions that support building and maintaining the infrastructure that will unlock the benefits of natural gas for more of the regions businesses and residents.

New Hampshire

Natural gas fuels the independent spirit of New Hampshire. As an affordable, reliable energy source depended upon by over 120,000 customers, natural gas works for the Granite State.

Natural gas contributed over $1 billion to the state economy in 2015, an investment that is helping to spur interest in expanding distribution infrastructure in New Hampshire – an enterprise that would help add to the already 10,000-plus jobs created by the industry in-state. From an economic boom to cleaner energy for a healthier environment, natural gas will benefit generations of New Hampshirites to come.

New Jersey

New Jersey knows what it means to produce; from the Industrial Revolution to the Jersey tomato, the Garden State’s grit never quits. Affordable and reliable energy is at the core of this spirit, so it’s no wonder that 50 percent of power generation in the state comes from natural gas.

Natural gas works for New Jersey. Two percent of total state jobs are in the industry, employing almost 80,000 people. 2.7 million residential consumers contributed over $7 billion to the Jersey economy, simply by heating their homes, cooking and relying on natural gas to power their lives.

New York

The use of natural gas by electricity-generating plants has produced some of the lowest atmospheric CO2 levels our country has seen in 25 years. And with the state of New York being the fourth-largest consumer of natural gas in 2014, it’s a good thing the state sits upon the Marcellus shale play, which is thought to hold more than 9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Unfortunately for New Yorkers, the state has a ban on hydraulic fracturing used to produce gas from shale. Because of this, the state is forced to get their natural gas from Canada and other states, and thus pay some of the nation’s highest prices in electricity.

Support for more infrastructure and governmental cooperation will not only lower electricity prices, but also continue to lower energy-related carbon emissions in the state. Now with the cleanest air the state has ever had in the last 50 years due to increased natural gas use, there is no question New York will only benefit from energy infrastructure.

Ohio

The Buckeye State is already unlocking the power of natural gas for its economy, benefitting consumers by lowering energy prices and supporting jobs.

Uniquely positioned as both an important producer and a major consumer of natural gas, Ohio is reaping the benefits of natural gas as it creates jobs and economic benefits while also offering big cost savings to Ohio residents and businesses.

A new study shows that the natural gas industry provides over 188,000 secure, well-paying careers in Ohio – both direct and induced – more than 3.5 percent of total state jobs. And natural gas contributed more than $26 billion in added value to the state’s economy in 2015 alone.

From natural gas exploration and the Ohio-based people and services that support it, to the lower energy costs for Buckeye homes and businesses, natural gas is a making a big difference in Ohio today and will continue to do so in the future.

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Pennsylvania

Providing 85 percent of U.S. shale gas production growth since 2012, the state of Pennsylvania has become a natural gas production powerhouse. The state’s ability to safely and responsibly frack using modern technology and horizontal drilling has allowed Pennsylvania to become second in marketed natural gas production.

And while Pennsylvania is admired for its success in fracking of the prolific Marcellus and Utica shale plays, it is vastly important for the state to continue support for natural gas and energy infrastructure. Currently, Pennsylvania faces a major lack of needed pipeline infrastructure to connect gas production to other markets in the nation.

This needed pipeline infrastructure won’t just help transport gas production across the U.S., but will also effect impact fee collection and help the state power the nation for generations in the future. The recognition of this needed infrastructure and its implementation will enable the state to continue to be a leader in reliable energy sources.

Rhode Island

Natural gas works in service of Rhode Island. The Ocean State thrives on real estate, health care, financial and insurance services, and with almost all in-state electricity generation fueled by natural gas, it’s an industry that understands reliability is key.

Natural gas also employs over 7,000 in the state – both directly and in induced jobs – hardworking people who serve over 260,000 customers and who contribute over $1 billion to the state economy. Though it may be small in size, Rhode Island lacks nothing for power.

Vermont

Natural gas helps power Vermont’s way of life. From ski lifts to apple orchards, electronics manufacturing to ice cream production, natural gas serves as an affordable and reliable source of energy.

The natural gas industry contributed a half-million dollars to the Green Mountain State’s economy in 2015, supporting 4,000 jobs and supplying 49,000 consumers with cleaner energy for residents and businesses alike.