The 'Wind Energy Areas' are on the outer continental shelf off the coast of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.
In March, the Department of the Interior will identify further offshore development areas off of other North Atlantic states including Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
A similar process will take place for the southern Atlantic coast in the spring.
The areas were unveiled by interior secretary Ken Salazar and energy secretary Steven Chu as part of a strategic plan to accelerate the development of offshore energy.
This included a $50.5 million funding for offshore research and development.
