PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The federal government will auction leases for wind farms off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts on July 31, marking the first time it has sold competitive leases for wind energy on the outer continental shelf, the U.S. Department of Interior said Tuesday.

The area is 9 nautical miles off the coast of Rhode Island, sitting between and to the south of Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard, and will be auctioned as two leases. The north area is around 150 square miles, while the south area covers a little more than 100 square miles.