The U.S. Department of the Interior is proposing the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Proposed Sale Notice includes a 102,480-acre area offshore Lake Charles, La., and two areas of offshore Galveston, Texas, according to a Feb. 22 news release. One is 102,480 acres, and the other 96,786.

“America’s clean energy transition is happening right here and now. At the department, we are taking action to jumpstart our offshore wind industry and harness American innovation to deliver reliable, affordable power to homes and businesses,” DOI Secretary Deb Haaland said in the release. “There is no time to waste in making bold investments to address the climate crisis, and building a strong domestic offshore wind industry is key to meeting that challenge head-on.”

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is seeking public comments regarding which, if any, of the two Galveston lease areas should be offered in the Final Sale Notice, with all three areas having the potential to provide approximately 1.3 million homes with clean energy, according to the release.

“BOEM is committed to ensuring any offshore wind activities are done in a manner that avoids or minimizes potential impacts to the ocean and ocean users,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said in the release. “Today’s announcement comes after years of engagement with Tribes, other government agencies, ocean users and stakeholders, and this proposed sale notice provides another opportunity for them to weigh in on potential offshore wind leasing in the Gulf of Mexico.”

According to a statement by the White House, the sale is a part of the Biden administration's plan to "[expand] the Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership" and "advance the administration's goal of reducing the costs of offshore wind energy by over 70% by 2035."

Those interested in commenting on the PSN can do so on the official BOEM website.