Why are New England states paying more for natural gas than surrounding states (sometimes a LOT more) when the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays are nearby? Even worse, people in these same states were forced to buy Russian gas the past two winters! This is happening because politicians in New York have been actively blocking pipelines for years creating an artificial shortage of gas. It’s costing New Englanders a lot of money, and New Yorkers are paying a heavy price as well.