Public lands on six western states are ripe for solar development, according to the draft of an environmental study prepared by two federal departments and cited by Reuters.

The Energy and Interior departments are preparing the report to scope out sites that, in addition to being flat and absorb enough sun, also will suffer minimal impact to their environmental and cultural resources. The framework is important for a region of the country that is very swiftly moving forward with heavy solar power development.

Following the path and standards laid out in the report will facilitate the U.S.' "lead in the global clean energy economy," according to a statement from Energy Secretary StevenChu.

According to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, the report "will help us site solar projects in the right places, and reduce conflicts and delays."

The states with public lands under scrutiny are Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, where the government is eyeing the creation of "Solar Energy Zones" in order to hasten processes for permitting and siting and solar projects.