The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced a proposed offshore wind lease sale for three areas in the Gulf of Mexico, off the shores of Texas and Louisiana.

The Interior Department will open over 300,000 acres in the Gulf, long dominated by fossil fuel production.

In 2010, the Gulf was the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest marine oil spill in history, in which about 210 million gallons leaked into the ocean.

DOI’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to analyse the entire Gulf of Mexico ecosystem to find areas that have the least conflict with other uses and the lowest environmental impact.

“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,” says Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. “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 proposed sale notice includes a 102,480-acre area offshore Lake Charles, La., and two areas offshore Galveston, Texas – one comprising 102,480 acres and the other comprising 96,786 acres.

If the DOI decides to proceed with the sale, BOEM will publish a final sale notice at least 30 days ahead of the sale.