In retrospect, we may have been a little naive to believe that last week's land conservation deal in Montana could have gone down with no strings attached. But we didn't expect to read a few days later that the Forest Service facilitated the development of new residential subdivisions with Plum Creek in western Montana, right after the timber company had sold 320,000 acres in the same region to be protected from McMansion infestations.

The head of the Forest Service, who also coincidentally used to be a logging industry lobbyist, told Plum Creek that it could turn additional forests into subdivisions -- without bothering with an environmental assessment or any of those other legally required steps that would alert the public to the deal. Missoula County, where the development is proposed, is considering suing to prevent construction. The county has a right to be upset, as it will end up losing money if the proposed sprawling summer homes are built, thanks to road maintenance and other municipal services.

For his part, the president of Plum Creek has said that only a very small portion of the land he owns in the area has been developed, and he doesn't anticipate developing much more. That promise is likely to last until land prices make it crazy for the company not to sell. Just like how Florida used to vehemently oppose drilling off its coast, and now that the price of oil is so high they are singing a different tune. If only renewable energy were as lucrative a commodity ...