As many as 200,000 poles in New Jersey will be outfitted early this month with solar energy devices, throughout the Garden State's six largest cities and about 300 suburbs, published reports indicate.

Contractors for PSE&G of Newark will install the renewable energy panels on utility poles and street lights on main streets and in residential neighborhoods, kicking off what is believed to be the globe's largest solar attachment, according to NJ.com.

"The solar panels bring the benefit of clean, renewable energy to all our customers, and the electricity generated from them helps us combat climate change," Al Matos, a PSE&G vice president, said. "The units are being installed in a safe, reliable manner consistent with our normal practices."

Expected to be completed by the end of 2013, the project is part of a $515 million investment approved in Summer 2009 by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, a regulatory board. The power this project generates will pass through the electric grid belonging to PSE&G, which will receive federal tax credits and solar renewable energy credits – all of which will benefit ratepayers.

On top of the utility pole project, each of which will generate 40 megawatts of power, additional PSE&G projects include developing solar garden and roof-top installations.