The area for leasing offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts is the Rhode Island/Massachusetts (RI/MA) Wind Energy Area which is about 9.2 nautical miles south of the Newport, Rhode Island coastline and totals about 164,750 acres. The RI/MA Wind Energy Area will be auctioned as two leases, Lease OCS-A 0486 (North Lease Area) and Lease OCS-A 0487 (South Lease Area).
- The North Lease Area will consist of 7 whole OCS blocks and 162 sub-blocks, which total about 97,500 acres
- The South Lease Area will consist of 6 whole OCS blocks and 93 sub-blocks, which total about 67,250 acres
According to a report recently released by the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the North Lease Area has a potential installed capacity of 1,955 MW and the South Lease Area has a potential installed capacity of 1,440 MW.