The leases are in regions near Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine that could produce about 13 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power more than 4.5 million homes.
The two areas being auctioned have the potential to produce over 3.1 gigawatts of clean, renewable energy, which is enough to power around 1 million homes.
Projects seeks to increase resilience in emergencies, lower energy costs for residents and businesses, and provide employment opportunities in rural areas
While geothermal systems have been essential electricity providers, their development has lagged behind other sources of renewable energies such as wind and solar.