Vineyard Wind Contracts Lower Electricity Prices for Massachusetts Customers

Vineyard Wind Contracts Lower Electricity Prices for Massachusetts Customers 

With the Activation of the Vineyard Wind Contracts, Nation’s First Utility-Scale Project will Save Massachusetts Customers $1.4 Billion 

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today is announcing the activation of the Vineyard Wind contracts, which ensure stable, affordable prices for 20 years and save Massachusetts customers a projected $1.4 billion on electricity bills over the next 20 years. 

 

“Vineyard Wind is a key part of our all-of-the-above strategy to lowering energy prices,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Throughout one of the coldest winters in recent history, Vineyard Wind turbines powered our homes and businesses at a low price and now that price goes even lower with the activation of these contracts. Especially as President Trump is taking energy sources off the table and increasing prices with his war in Iran, we should be leaning into more American-made wind power to lower costs, create jobs, and make our country more energy independent. Massachusetts is uniquely positioned to lead on this and deliver major savings to our residents.” 

 

“Offshore wind is a homegrown Massachusetts industry, and we’re going to keep supporting these important projects,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Vineyard Wind shows us what’s possible: lower prices, more jobs, and reliable power when we need it the most.” 

 

This past winter, Vineyard Wind lowered electricity prices by competing in wholesale electricity markets, consistently offering lower prices than other sources of electricity. Today’s activation of the utilities’ contracts on behalf of Massachusetts customers further lowers the price of electricity generated by Vineyard Wind. These contracts are expected to provide customers in Massachusetts an average of 1.4 cents/kWh in direct bill savings – at a price that’s less than half of peak pricing we saw this winter. The project has created nearly 4,000 jobs, and delivered $1.94 billion in total economic output. It will reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of taking 325,000 cars off the road annually or burning more than 3.7 million barrels of oil. 

 

“The activation of the Vineyard Wind contract is an important milestone on the road to lower energy prices and a strong offshore wind industry,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Today also demonstrates the value of these long-term contracts, which are carefully vetted to maximize customer savings, bring on the supply we need, and get projects off the ground. I appreciate the support of the Legislature for the long-term vision for an offshore wind industry we are now seeing in action.” 

 

“This is a historic day in Massachusetts’ energy journey,” said Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “This plentiful resource right off our coast provides residents and businesses with clean, low-cost electricity that is essential to meet our growing demand. During this past winter’s extreme cold, we also saw how the project provided needed power reliability for Massachusetts and New England.” 

 

Offshore wind is a critical energy resource in the Northeast and is uniquely positioned to meet the New England region’s winter peak demand for electricity. Offshore wind has its highest output in the coldest winter months when the New England grid is most constrained. A recent report from Acadia Center found that, during the week-long deep freeze earlier this year, wind generation peaked, hitting near-record performance levels. The report explained that offshore wind would have saved New England ratepayers at least $400 million in utility bill costs during the winter of 2024/2025, lowering energy market prices by 11% and insulating ratepayers from expensive, volatile natural gas markets. 

 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration continues to work on many fronts to bring more energy into Massachusetts to lower energy bills and meet the rising demand for electricity. Last month, the Governor issued an executive order to add 10 gigawatts of new energy resources by 2035, which will lead to an estimated savings of $10 billion for Massachusetts residents and businesses. Governor Healey filed the Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act to lower energy bills and bring more supply into Massachusetts, including enhanced state energy procurement authority, which could help support more cost-effective projects like Vineyard Wind. She also took $180 million off people’s gas and electric bills this winter, bringing the total savings to $300 million over two years. 

 

Vineyard Wind is an 806-megawatt project located 14 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. It has been producing power since January 2024. The project began construction in late 2022. Massachusetts was the first state in the country to move forward on a utility-scale offshore wind project. 

第35屆全美加青少年國畫書法比賽 5/1-31收件

往年參賽作品。（中華表演藝術基金會提供）

(Boston Orange)中華表演藝術基金會第35屆 (2026) 全美加青少年國畫書法比賽，依年齡分4個組別，訂5月1日起收件，5月31日截止 。凡是居住在美國和加拿大的 22歲及以下學生，不限國籍，均可參加。

中華表演藝術基金會提高海外華裔青少年學習中國傳統文化的興趣，鼓勵青年學習傳統中國國畫書法，將之培養成終身愛好，費心舉辦國畫書法比賽，迄今己連續34年，2023 年起，才轉為在線上舉辦。

過去這些年來，有為數不少學生在申請大學時，用參加這比賽的成績，作為申請材料中的才藝資料，頗受重視。

比賽的4個年齡組別分別為，9 歲及以下、10 至 13 歲、14至 17 歲、18 至 22 歲。有意參賽者，每人可提交2幅國畫或書法作品，或兩者皆可，最多4幅。不論提交作品數量，報名參賽費用每人10元。

比賽結果將於2026 年 6 月 25 日，獎金可高達250美元。

今年（2026）的比賽，已訂邀請蔣宗壬博士，朱蓉博士，杜瑋醫生，林浩宗，劉曉勇和馬清雄等藝文界書畫專家擔任評委。

             比賽簡章，報名表，以及1999 - 2025年間的入選優秀作品，可在網上看到﹕
https://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/competition/painting/2026/index.html。        

May 1st, start accepting entries to the 35th Annual (2026) All-American and Canada Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy Competition. All students in US and Canada, regardless of nationalities, up to 22yr as of May 31, 2026 are invited to participate.

Four age groups: 9 and under, 10 to 13, 14 to 17, 18 to 22. Age refers to the Application Deadline May 31, 2026. Each student could submit 2 pieces of either brush painting or calligraphy, or both, up to 4 pieces total. Application Forms and Art Works Specification:
https://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/competition/painting/2026/index.html

Application Fee: USD $10 per person for up to 4 pieces of artworks
submission.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Results Announced: June 25, 2026
Cash Award up to USD $250

This competition has been held continuously for 34 years. Since 2023, it has been transitioned to an online format.  It aims to enhance the interest of overseas Chinese youth in learning traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, fostering a lifelong passion. Many students who participated in this competition have valued for their university applications.

Esteemed experts in the arts and calligraphy have been invited to serve as judges, demonstrating the seriousness of the competition. 2026 Jury Panel: Dr. Edward Chiang 蔣宗壬, Dr. Doris Chu 朱蓉, Dr. Wei Du 杜瑋, Mr. Ho-Chung Lam 林浩宗, Mr. Xiaoyong Liu 劉曉勇, Mr. Qingxiong Ma 馬清雄 Details of the competition regulations, application forms, and images of award-winning art works from 1999 to 2025 can be viewed online at:
https://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/competition/painting/2026/index.html

3年內有10名科學家死亡或失蹤 FBI揚言正帶頭調查

           （Boston Orange編譯）美國聯邦調查局（FBI）4月21日公開表示，正在主導調查，以釐清近年至少 10 名科學家死亡或失蹤的案件，彼此間是否存在「惡意聯繫（sinister connection）」。MIT 著名生醫學者Robert Langer Jr.呼籲以科學統計分析，釐清這些案件是否確實超乎常態。

由於這些科學家分別掌握核武秘密或火箭技術，意味著美國國家與機密人員的安全，可能受到嚴重威脅，眾議院監督委員會共和黨主席詹姆斯·科默（James Comer）和眾議員Eric Burlison，4月20日發函，要求美國國家航空暨太空總署（NASA）、國防部及能源部等聯邦機構，提供相關人員調查資訊，研議如何保護持有安全許可（Security Clearances）的科學家。

不過有學界與部分官員仍對「陰謀論」持高度懷疑。前研究安全官員Cole Donovan指出，麻州的2名學者，MIT 核融合專家洛雷羅（Nuno F.G. Loureiro）去年12月在布魯克蘭鎮的家中被槍殺一案，警方已證實和個人恩怨有關。去年12月在威克菲爾德（Wakefield）失蹤，遺體於今年 3 月尋獲的劍橋諾華製藥研究員Jason Thomas，雖然死因尚未確認，但麻州地方檢察官辦公室已於週三表示，目前沒有謀殺嫌疑。

FBI正在調查，身份已證實的其他科學家還有2023 年死亡，曾長期在麻州居住，後來在加州工作的前NASA 噴射推進實驗室（JPL）科學家Michael David Hicks，2025 年 6 月在 加州 健行時失蹤，至今下落不明的NASA 科學家Monica Reza，以及2026 年 2 月 攜槍從 新墨西哥州 阿布奎基（Albuquerque）家中失蹤，至今下落不明的退役空軍准將William Neil McCasland。

其他還待細查的科學家有2人是洛斯阿拉莫斯國家實驗室相關人員，1人是核武設施政府承包商。

哈佛大學教授Sheila Jasanoff警告道，在缺乏確鑿證據下搜尋案件聯繫，可能加劇社會對科學的不信任，進而削弱民主體制。

東北大學追溯波士頓龍舟賽歷史 Ohana 八月一日辦東方龍舟賽為青少年籌款

Ohana 共同創辦人吳美麗（Veera Mahadomrongkul）介紹龍舟。（周菊子攝）

             （Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導）東北大學駐地藝術家日前舉辦「喚醒巨龍」工作坊，介紹該校關於龍舟「隱藏的歷史」檔案，助力Ohana New England龍舟隊宣傳，籌款幫助青少年隊員實現今秋遠赴台灣花蓮鯉魚潭參加第15屆IDBF 世界龍舟俱樂部錦標賽 (CCWC)的宏願。

Ohana 共同創辦人黃義勤（右起），龍舟博物館創辦人伍振中，
董事長司徒文信出席工作坊。（周菊子攝）

              預訂於今年8月1日舉辦的「東方巨獸龍舟經典賽（Beast from the East Dragon Boat Classic）」，就既是Ohana的年度大活動，也是Ohana精心策劃，爭取社區支持，希望為去年10月在佛羅里達州舉行的美國國家錦標賽中贏得資格，將代表美國參加國際龍舟聯合會（IDBF）所組織第15屆世界俱樂部錦標賽的「神奇小孩（Wonder Kids）」們，籌募遠赴台灣旅費的活動。

龍舟博物館創辦人伍振中闡述願景，（周菊子攝）

           Ohana共同創辦人吳美麗指出，Ohana的創隊宗旨是「降低門檻」，她們希望很多來自基層家庭的青少年隊員們，不致於因為家裡沒錢，錯失代表美國到台灣參賽，做一趟文化尋根之旅的機會。

龍舟博物館董事長司徒文信介紹昆士市龍舟博物館。（周菊子攝）

            東北大學的「追溯歷史計劃（The Reckonings Project）」，日前邀請2名駐地藝術家，擅長結合影像與社區參與的Joanna Tam 和擅長跨媒體敘事的Lania Asunción，和Ohana New England龍舟隊，以及龍舟博物館（DBM）合作，舉辦了一場「喚醒巨龍：角色扮演指南（Awakening the Dragon: Role Playing Guide）」工作坊，追溯波士頓龍舟賽的傳統與歷史，說明相關展覽將於8月底在東北大學360藝廊展出。

吳美麗和黃義勤示範划龍舟。（周菊子攝）

            Ohana New England龍舟隊共同創辦人黃義勤（Allen Huang）、吳美麗（Veera Mahadomrongkul），在活動中介紹了划龍舟運動的技術、訓練，Ohana龍舟隊的創辦緣起和特色，致力為更多青少年及有心人提供接近水域，划龍舟機會的心意，以及他們預定今年9月率2組青少年隊，1組成人隊，共3組龍舟隊遠赴台灣花蓮鯉魚潭，參加第15屆IDBF 世界龍舟俱樂部錦標賽 (CCWC)的未來動向。

東北大學駐地藝術家Joanna Tam（右） 和Lania Asunción（左）
說明「喚醒龍」工作坊。（周菊子攝）

            龍舟博物館的創辦人伍振中（Peter Ng），以及董事長司徒文信(Matt Szeto)則在活動中簡述了龍舟博物館的建造初衷和願景。

工作坊現場。（周菊子攝）

            駐地藝術家Joanna Tam 和Lania Asunción目前在東北大學的「追溯歷史計劃（The Reckonings Project）」中做研究。她們從東北大學圖書館的「特別收藏(Special Collections)」檔案中，發現波士頓龍舟節與華埠（Chinatown）之間，早從1979年起，就有許多不為人知的故事，促使他們著手追溯划龍舟這文化傳統活動與社區組織，社會運動之間的關係，也發掘被時間遺落的“隱藏歷史”。

            Ohana New England龍舟隊共同創辦人吳美麗（Veera Mahadomrongkul）這天介紹該隊歷史，闡述划龍舟知識，還由黃義勤用市內划槳模擬器（Ergs）現場示範如何划龍舟。

工作坊開幕。（周菊子攝）

            吳美麗指出，划龍舟是面向終點「划槳（Paddling）」，動力來自全身同步，用核心肌群扭轉，真正推力來自背部和腰部，「划船（Rowing）」則是背向終點，動力極大程度來自腿部推力和手臂拉力，所以說「划龍舟」時，千萬要記得用Paddling這個字。

            吳美麗本人在夏威夷和沖繩長大，小時候頭部曾淹沒水中，對水有恐懼感，直到2005年在紐約接觸划龍舟，才學會用意志力克服恐懼，從此划龍舟成就為她生命中一部份。和丈夫黃義勤創辦龍舟隊之前，她曾長達3年的經常靜看龍舟划過河邊夕陽，心深觸動，促使她們選擇了夏威夷語中意味著家人，沒人有會被遺忘的Ohana做隊名。

            Ohana隊員年齡從12到80多歲都有。吳美麗笑說Ｏhana有如一個跨越年齡，族裔與社會地位的大家庭，大家在一條船上同進退。她和黃義勤創辦龍舟隊，志在讓所有想要接近水域，嘗試划龍舟的人，都有機會接觸這種具文化底蘊，有實際體能訓練，團隊精神培訓的活動。

            龍舟博物館的創辦人伍振中（Peter Ng），以及董事長司徒文信(Matt Szeto)這天在活動中簡述了龍舟博物館的建造初衷和願景。

            司徒文信說明「龍舟博物館」座落在昆士市中心，全由發起人伍振中親手改建，把原本是牙醫診所的場地，裝修成寬敞明亮的展覽廳，並以之為雛形，為廣大民眾展示將來要建造真正龍舟博物館願景。

            既是書法家，又因出生於香港長洲，從小深受當地龍舟賽影響的伍振中坦言，他和波士頓龍舟賽的關係，始於波士頓龍舟節的船隻需要維修，他出手相助，接著發現波士頓龍舟節既無船塢，也無冬季訓練場所，或存放器材空間，這才生出打造龍舟博物館，弘揚在中華傳統文化中已有悠久歷史，既能培訓團隊精神，又具助人健康功效活這動的念頭。

            伍振中心中的理想是要建造一座能結合龍舟文化與休閒產業的永久性龍舟博物館，不但要有訓練技術場所，展示文化歷史，強身健體的空間，更要有供做商業化營運的餐廳，咖啡廳，婚宴場所等，以期龍舟博物館可以成為一個自給自足的非牟利組織。他甚至已經構思出以昆士市為初步據點，達成這目標的六大支柱。

            「東方巨獸龍舟經典賽（Beast from the East Dragon Boat Classic）」的報名網址為：https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYwNJpoWnBIGQHXqCkznTVKxlQ2ez2WVH593y2HzS7C9Ynzw/viewform。查詢Ohana詳情，可上網https://www.ohananewengland.org/，查詢龍舟博物館可洽伍振中。

麻州政府訂4/26-5/2舉辦一系列5場「麻州學徒週」活動

（Boston Orange編譯）麻州政府今日宣佈，將配合全國學徒週，在 4 月 26 日至 5 月 2 日舉辦ㄧ系列5場「麻州學徒週（Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week）」。麻州勞工暨勞動力發展廳（EOLWD）將派員前往全州各地，展示「政府認證學徒計畫（Registered Apprenticeship Programs）」在建築、製造、醫療保健、生命科學及早期教育等產業作為勞動力策略的價值。

麻州勞工廳從 2023 年 1 月以來，共撥發 1,200 萬美元的 「成長（GROW ）」補助金，還從美國勞工部（USDOL）爭取到 800 萬美元資金來擴辦認證學徒制，迄今已有超過 11,000 名註冊學徒。

麻州州長奚莉（ Maura Healey）表示，這項目為民眾創造了通往優質工作的路徑，也幫助麻州培訓出具備熟練技能的勞動力，以應對經濟需求。

麻州副州長 Kim Driscoll 指出，學徒制讓勞工能一邊學習一邊賺取收入，並在首日即具備成功所需的實踐經驗。

麻州勞工廳廳長Lauren Jones 和副廳長 Josh Cutler 將於 4 月 27 日週一開始，出席一系列活動。

週一上午訪視波士頓鐵工工會第 7 分會（Ironworkers Local 7）發表宣言。

週二，在州政府大樓晤見瑞士駐波士頓領事館（Swissnex），以及瑞士企業駐麻州代表，討論如何以學徒制作為吸引與留住人才的策略。

週三上午，Jones 部長將出席由大波士頓商會主辦的麻州學徒網絡（Massachusetts Apprentice Network）四週年活動，重點說明 2025 年註冊學徒稅收抵免（Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit）的影響。

週四，麻州政府將在新貝德福德（New Bedford）的小人國學院（Little People’s College）宣佈新一輪用於擴展早期教育學徒計畫的 GROW 補助金。同日下午，Jones 部長將視察位於埃文（Avon）的 AccuRounds 公司，參觀其先進製造認證學徒計畫。

有關麻州註冊學徒制的詳細資訊，可至官方網站 mass.gov/Apprenticeship 查詢。

Healey-Driscoll Administration Kicks Off Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week, April 26 – May 2, 2026

Apprenticeship celebrations and announcements happening across the state all week; Full schedule of events and press availability below

 

BOSTON - Next week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration will celebrate Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week, in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Week, with events and announcements across Massachusetts to highlight the value of Registered Apprenticeship Programs as a workforce strategy for industries such as construction, manufacturing, health care, life sciences, early education, and many more.

 

Since January 2023, the administration has awarded $12 million in GROW grants, secured $8 million from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) to expand registered apprenticeships, and has registered over 11,000 apprentices in Massachusetts. 

 

“Registered apprenticeships create real pathways to good jobs and help Massachusetts build the skilled workforce our economy needs,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re investing in apprenticeship programs across industries, expanding opportunities for workers to earn while they learn, and helping employers grow the talent they need to compete. Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week is a chance to celebrate that progress and encourage more businesses to join us in this work.”

 

“Registered apprenticeship programs are one of the most effective tools we have to develop talent,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. They allow us to invest in our workforce while giving workers the hands-on experience and skills they need to succeed from day one.”

 

Starting Monday, April 27, 2026, and throughout the week, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones and Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler will attend several Apprenticeship related events across the state. Last year, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Jones convened labor leaders and hundreds of apprentices in different industries to recognize 250 years of apprenticeship innovation in Massachusetts.

 

“Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to highlight the critical role registered apprenticeships play in building an innovative and skilled workforce across Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “Registered apprenticeships are instrumental in connecting untapped talent to good paying, meaningful careers, while preparing this new workforce with the skills employers need. I look forward to traveling across the state during Apprenticeship Week to see these programs in action.”

 

“Apprenticeship Week is a weeklong spotlight on what’s working in Massachusetts,” said Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler. “From hard hats and lab coats to shop floors and tech hubs, employers are tapping into talent and building their teams with registered apprenticeships.”

 

EOLWD Secretary Jones’ Public Schedule for Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week 2026

 

Monday, April 27, 2026

Secretary Jones and Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler will visit Ironworkers Local 7 to kickoff Apprenticeship Week and present a proclamation alongside apprentices.

 

When: Monday, April 27, 2026, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Ironworkers Local 7, 195 Old Colony Ave, Boston, MA 02127

Press: Open

 

 

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Secretary Jones, Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler, and the Swiss Consulate in Boston (Swissnex) will convene business leaders from Swiss companies with a presence in Massachusetts to discuss registered apprenticeship opportunities as a workforce strategy to attract, retain, and develop talent.   

 

When: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Where: Room 157, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133

Press: Open

 

 

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Secretary Jones will speak at the Massachusetts Apprentice Network 4th Anniversary Event, hosted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and highlight the impact of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s 2025 Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit.

When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Where: 265 Franklin Street Suite 1701, Boston, MA 02110

Press: Open, please RSVP to Casey Baines cbaines@bostonchamber.com

 

 

Thursday, April 30, 2026

The Healey-Driscoll Administration will announce a new round of GROW Grants to expand registered apprenticeship programs in Early Childhood Education.

When: Thursday, April 30, 2026, 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Where: Little People’s College, 107 Welby Road, New Bedford, MA

Press: Open, livestreamed at mass.gov/LWD/News

 

 

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Secretary Jones will visit AccuRounds and tour their advanced manufacturing registered apprenticeship program.

When: Thursday, April 30, 2026, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Where: 74 Bodwell Street, Avon, MA 02322

Press: Open

 

 

For more information about Massachusetts Registered Apprenticeship, visit mass.gov/Apprenticeship.

麻州研擬草案加強監管網約車平台及司機 每項違規罰500美元

         （Boston Orange）麻州公用事業處(DPU)今(24)日發佈法規草案，加強監管網約車平台公司及其司機。新規明定，網約車平台若違反司機認證規定，每項違規罰款 500 美元。DPU現正公開徵詢民眾意見，提交截止日為2026 年 7 月 2 日。

擬議中的草案將強制網約車平台持續監管司機背景，擴大審查範圍至司機過去 7 年曾居住或持照的所有州別，嚴禁曾遭任何州吊銷駕照的司機執業，若平台允許未經審查人員執業就喪失服務資格。平台公司還必須每年確認營運車輛無安全召回紀錄，藉以透過強制的背景監控與營運規範，確保全州 10.4 萬名認證司機的執業安全。

在保障乘客方面，草案要求平台優化 App （軟體應用程式）行程驗證協定以確保車輛真實性，並限制 16 歲以下未成年人須由成年人陪同搭乘。平台公司須為司機提供年度訓練，課程涵蓋安全駕駛、預防人口販運及服務身障者之技巧等。

麻州公用事業處主管 Jeremy McDiarmid 強調，新規則旨在強化產業監督，並確保審查過程公平。專員Staci Rubin 補充，法規要求平台公司每兩年提交電動化進展報告。截至 2025 年 12 月，州府已發放約 144.6 萬美元，資助約 300 名司機更換電動車。

自 2017 年行使監管權以來，麻州已執行逾 80 萬次背景審查，並對違規業者裁罰超過 600 萬美元。研擬中的規範不涵蓋由市鎮核發許可的 UberEats 或 DoorDash 等餐飲外送平台。DPU將針對草案舉辦兩場聽證會。

DPU Plans to Enhance Rideshare Safety through New Regulations

 

The proposed regulations will be nation-leading in protecting both passengers and drivers

 
BOSTON — Today, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) opened a rulemaking proceeding to enhance public safety for all rideshares across the state. The DPU’s TNC Division is updating its regulations that pertain to both the Transportation Network Companies (TNCs)—companies providing rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft—and drivers certified by the DPU to operate in Massachusetts. The regulations, once implemented, would reinforce Massachusetts’s position as a national leader in state oversight of rideshare services through a rigorous, safety-focused program.  

 

Through its TNC Division, the DPU has the authority to regulate rideshare companies, the services provided by each company, and rideshare drivers in the state since 2017. There are currently five permitted TNCs authorized to conduct business and over 104,000 certified rideshare drivers in Massachusetts. Over the past nine years, the DPU has completed over 800,000 background checks, thousands of appeals, and assessed over $6 million in civil penalties to the TNCs for lack of compliance with state laws. The DPU does not regulate on-demand food delivery rides, like UberEats and Doordash: these companies must obtain operating permits from municipalities.  

 

“Massachusetts has the opportunity to set the standard for safety and oversight of the TNC industry with these updated regulations,” said Chair Jeremy McDiarmid. “The proposed changes reflect our top line goal of promoting passenger safety and ensuring driver fairness and dignity in the background check process.” 

 

“Safety always comes first,” said Commissioner Liz Anderson. “We are extremely committed to passenger safety. The regulatory changes that we’re proposing would create new standards for rideshare companies and drivers to make sure both passengers and drivers have the safest ride possible.”  

 

“The proposed regulations promote safety for riders and drivers and kickstart an equitable transition to the electrification of rideshare vehicles,” said Commissioner Staci Rubin. “Massachusetts is capitalizing on this unique opportunity to help ensure that the use of climate friendly vehicles is fair to drivers while we reduce environmental impacts from the transportation sector, the largest source of GHG pollution in the state.” 

 

The new draft regulations impose more rigorous standards for driver certification and for the background checks conducted by both the TNCs and the DPU. The regulations expand driver disqualifications, such as suspended or revoked driving privileges in any state or allowing another driver without a background check to provide services on a TNC driver’s behalf, to better protect the safety of passengers and require continuous background check monitoring of drivers for any criminal or traffic violations. TNCs must also conduct new background checks whenever they become aware of changes to a driver’s personal information, such as obtaining a new driver’s license from another state. The regulations expand the scope of TNC background checks to cover criminal and motor vehicle driving history from every state where a potential Massachusetts TNC driver has resided or held a license in the past seven years. The third-party companies the TNCs use for background checks are also now subject to accreditation requirements to ensure their policies and work product are reliable and comply with state and federal laws. TNCs would be fined $500 for certain driver-related violations under the DPU’s final regulations. 

 

The regulations seek to enhance the DPU’s current appeals process to make it more robust and transparent by providing standards for the DPU to review incident reports created by law enforcement and applicable to a driver’s appeal of certificate denial or revocation. The DPU will also now review any subpoenas in connection with a driver or company appeal.  

 

Through the new regulations, the DPU looks to provide passengers with more transparency and enhance Ride Authentication protocols used in the TNCs’ apps so that passengers can verify quickly and easily that they are getting in the vehicle that they ordered. Additionally, the DPU’s regulations would make it easier for passengers to share their ride details with trusted parties and law enforcement in case of emergencies. 

 

TNCs will be required to provide their drivers with annual educational training on safe driving and public interaction, distracted driving prevention, human trafficking awareness and prevention, and serving riders with disabilities, such as riders with service animals or riders using wheelchairs. Minors under 16 would be required to be accompanied by an adult when using rideshare services.  

 

In addition to the strengthened suitability requirements, the TNCs must now annually check for safety recalls of vehicles before they can be used to provide rideshare services. Along with increasing safety oversight, the draft regulations would promote the electrification of rideshare vehicles and require the TNCs to submit biennial reports on their progress advancing their electrification programs, required by Massachusetts law. Since 2024, MassCEC’s Ride Clean Mass program has helped rideshare drivers by providing rebates to significantly reduce upfront costs when rideshare drivers purchase or rent electric vehicles. As of December 2025, Ride Clean Mass has disbursed roughly $1,446,800 in vouchers to roughly 300 rideshare drivers to electrify their vehicles. Rebates are still available to qualifying drivers.  

 

Following the publication of the draft regulations by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the DPU will hold two hearings to gain feedback from drivers, stakeholders, and the public. All members of the public and stakeholders are welcome to provide written comments by July 2, 2026. More information can be found at the DPU’s page on the rulemaking proceeding.