What does 'net zero' mean? Sprawl by another name?

Kaid Benfield at the Natural Resources Defense Council pulls no punches in his review of a proposed "green" development that consists of large-lot single family houses on a piece of Illinois farmland miles from any town.

"This is not true green development but exurban sprawl.  One can earn LEED building certification pretty much in the middle of nowhere, unfortunately, so they may well accomplish that part. The developer seems to be claiming that the homes-to-be already have qualified for LEED-gold and that a builder can make easy adjustments to a building plan to enable the purchaser to aim higher and obtain a LEED-platinum rating."