Kohl’s has flipped the switch on a rooftop solar energy system at its Laguna Niguel store that it says is part of the largest planned U.S. photovoltaic solar rollout to date. The plan, as reported in April, is to build solar electric systems at 63 of Kohl’s 80 California locations, which will total approximately 25 megawatts. At completion, Kohl’s solar program will represent approximately 15 percent of California’s photovoltaic installations to date.

Once completed, Kohl’s use of solar power will generate more than 35 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually.

Kohl’s rooftop systems are being built under an agreement that sees Sun Edison managing the system in exchange for Kohl’s commitment to purchase energy from SunEdison.

In July, Kohl’s was ranked No. 8 on EPA’s National Top 25 list -? up from its No. 24 ranking in April 2007 -? as well as rising to No. 2 on EPA’s Top 10 Retail list -? up from No. 5 in April 2007.