ELF - culprit or scapegoat?

CNN ardently reports domestic environmental terrorism in Seattle, with only a quiet question mark appended. They neglect to report what the AP in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says:

The five unoccupied homes in the development were more than 4,200 square feet in size and were for sale at up to $2 million.

The questions that should be asked: In the current parlous state of real estate, did the developer have motive to burn his own houses? Did someone else have a motive?

Of course, the original appearance could be true.