After years of fits and starts, the U.S. is opening the central and northern coasts of California to offshore wind development.

The Biden administration announced Nov. 12 that it designated nearly 400 square miles of the Pacific Ocean off the Central California coast as a wind energy lease area. The designation of the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area, 20 miles off the coast of Morro Bay, allows the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, to prepare an environmental statement to consider the impacts of offshore wind development. That includes biological, archeological, geological and geophysical surveys and other site assessment activities, BOEM said.

The White House said in a statement that the administration is also "advancing the Humboldt Call Area off the Northern California Coast as a potential wind energy area," though it provided few details. A statement said the initial areas of development could bring up to 4.6 GW of energy to California's grid.

For years, designation of the two wind energy areas for offshore development has been stymied by conflicts with the military, which has closely guarded its ability to train in the Pacific Ocean. The White House said in a statement that the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Defense are coordinating on advancing renewable energy development in Pacific waters.

"Because the Defense Department engages in significant testing, training, and operations off the coast of California that are essential to national security, the Defense Department played a critical role in identifying these new areas for offshore wind development," the White House statement said.

"The Department of the Interior acknowledges the critical nature of current and future military testing, training, and operations and that the operational integrity thereof is a national security imperative. It will work closely with the Department of Defense to ensure long-term protection of military testing, training, and operations while pursuing new domestic clean energy resources."

Another challenge California faces in offshore wind development is the deep Pacific waters, which will necessitate floating offshore wind platforms as opposed to the fixed-foundation platforms developers will build off the Atlantic coast. The White House said the U.S. Department of Energy has invested more than $100 million in researching, developing and demonstrating floating offshore wind technology.

A 60-day public comment period opened Nov. 12 for the Morro Bay call area. Once BOEM considers the public input, it will publish a draft environmental assessment for more public review and comment. BOEM will then determine whether to move forward with lease sale.

California intends to reach 100% renewable energy by 2045. The California ISO faces multiple issues including wildfires and power shortages.

"Developing offshore wind to produce clean, renewable energy could be a game changer to achieving California's clean energy goals and addressing climate change — all while bolstering the economy and creating new jobs," California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in a prepared statement released by the White House.