During the next century, there will be constraints on the use of all fossil fuels. Greenhouse warming will constrain all of them, but is most severe for coal. The price of a fuel is controlled by the balance between production rate and demand. The production rate of any fuel will be at its maximum when about half of it has been produced. At this time, price instabilities followed by increasing prices are expected. This situation will probably exist for oil during the first third of the 21st century. Increased efficiency of fuel use and long term planning are essential.
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