Fitzgerald points way for dealers to think green

Kudos to auto dealer Jack Fitzgerald for agreeing to power his Maryland dealerships with electricity generated by climate-friendly wind turbines -- even though it will cost more. It's the kind of commitment that others ought to make, too.

Fitzgerald's dealership group was the first retail chain to be recognized by the EPA as a Green Power Partner for using electricity generated by renewable energy sources.

But Fitzgerald's dealerships aren't the only automotive Green Power Partners, according to the EPA. The agency's Web site also recognizes facilities operated by American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. in California, BMW Manufacturing Corp. in South Carolina and General Motors Service and Parts Operations in Michigan.

Those automakers deserve credit because they have assumed individual responsibility by dealing with global energy issues at the local level.

Unfortunately, much of the environmental good will is lost when automakers oppose higher fuel economy standards. Likewise, it is a cynical gesture for the auto industry to endorse a proposal that saddles the oil industry with the primary burden of fighting global warming.

At the retail end, dealers are well-known for the contributions they make in their communities. Now Fitzgerald has raised the bar by thinking globally and acting locally, which we all ought to do.

Other dealers -- plus suppliers and automakers -- should consider the benefits of the EPA's Green Power Partnership program.

In this era when a growing number of consumers care about environmental issues, Green Power might become a competitive advantage. Remember, it's OK to do well by doing good.