This is Not an Endorsement for PVC

[Brennan J.]

Yes, consuming 30,000 MT of oil for nearly 80,000 MT of PVC is not as
environmentally friendly as leaving it in the ground. Well, in terms
of economics and the climate, if the industrial demand side for PVC-
irrigation systems drove oil to over 150 dollars a barrel with no CO2
emissions-then good!

I certainly am not advocating paving the deserts with PVC or creating
PVC icebergs in the Arctic. The key albedo strategy that I am
proposing is utilizing massive solar concentrating mirrors as an
albedo offset in the geographic and radiational heating center of
subtropical deserts while generating electricity in the process with
HVDC transmission.
I am very inclined to side with Greenpeace and I believe that PVC
should have been reigned in a long time ago. I also worked in
environmental health at the Florida Department of Health for several
years, I believe that the material science behind PVC can evolve
towards a more environmentally friendly product that minimizes harmful
phthathate plasticizers and dioxin risks. At the very least, I believe
that PVC can have a critical role to play in water distribution and
irrigation systems for subtropical desert agriculture and forestry.