Massachusetts is set to lead the nation in offshore wind energy development through a commercial lease sale, Gov. Deval Patrick said.

Patrick was joined by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Acting Director Walter Cruickshank to announce more than 742,000 acres off the state's coast will go on sale for wind energy development.

"Massachusetts is poised to lead the charge in offshore wind energy development, with the economic and environmental benefits that come with it," the governor said in a statement.

The acreage up for auction starts 12 miles from the Massachusetts coast. BOEM said it would lease the area in four tranches.

While no commercial wind farms are in service in U.S. territorial waters, the acreage nearly doubles the area available for such development.

BOEM has awarded five commercial wind energy leases off the Atlantic coast since President Barack Obama took office. Auctions are scheduled later this year for acreage off the Maryland and New Jersey coasts.

The Massachusetts Proposed Sale Notice triggers a public comment period that ends Aug. 18.