This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

November 26, 2014

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on November 24 announced that more than 742,000 acres offshore Massachusetts will be offered for commercial wind energy development in a January 29, 2015, competitive lease sale. The Massachusetts Wind Energy Area starts about 12 nautical miles offshore Massachusetts; from its northern boundary, the area extends 33 nautical miles southward and has an east/west extent of approximately 47 nautical miles.

According to an analysis prepared by the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, if fully developed, the area being offered could support between 4 and 5 gigawatts of commercial wind capacity, enough to power more than 1.4 million homes. Twelve companies have qualified to participate in the auction for the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area. See the DOI news release.