Industrial REIT ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) announced an agreement this spring with California’s largest electric utility to lease space for a new solar power program.

Initially, Southern California Edison (SCE) will lease approximately 600,000 square feet of roof space at ProLogis’ Kaiser distribution Park in Fontana, Calif., where the utility company will install power-generating solar panels. SCE plans to complete the solar power program’s start-up phase by the end of 2008, with the intention of adding an additional five to 10 solar panel sites in that timeframe.

Beginning in 2009, SCE intends to implement its full renewable energy program, aiming to put enough new installations online each year to produce an additional 50 megawatts of power. In total, the electric utility hopes to complete facilities capable of generating 250 megawatts per year.

“This project has the potential to become a breakthrough solar energy program,” says Jeffrey H. Schwartz, ProLogis chairman and chief executive officer. “We are thrilled to partner with SCE on their first rooftop solar installation and look forward to providing additional roof space as the project gains momentum, which will in turn support our own sustainability goals and leverage existing assets.”

ProLogis received an honorable mention in NAREIT’s 2007 “Leader in the Light” awards.

On Mar. 27, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined Southern California Edison (SCE) officials on the rooftop of ProLogis’ Kaiser distribution Park in Fontana, Calif. “These are the kinds of big ideas we need to meet California’s long-term energy and climate change goals,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger at the ProLogis, rooftop announcement (from left to right: Jeff Schwartz, ProLogis chairman and CEO; John Bryson, Edison International president, Gov. Schwarzenegger; Mike Peevey, Calif. Public Utilities Commisson president; and John Fielder, SCE president).