Author, Scientist, Petroleum Engineer, Speaker, Forbes.com Contributor.
Ian obtained his Ph.D. in physics from Adelaide University, Australia. He has consulted all over the world. Learn more>>
New Book Release about Energy Crossroads
I’ve just released a new book called How Oil and Gas Companies are Pivoting Toward Climate Change published by Cambridge Scholars in the UK.
Intended for experts and lay readers, the book outlines efforts by oil and gas companies to clean up their greenhouse gas emissions while addressing the transition from fossil energies to renewable energies like wind and solar.
How Oil and Gas Companies are Pivoting Toward Climate Change is based on a selection from almost 150 articles I’ve published with Forbes.com over the last three years. This book takes an honest look at the fast-charging energy transition from the unique perspective of a solar space scientist turned oilfield engineer.
How far are global leaders such as BP, Occidental, and ExxonMobil pivoting toward climate change?
To see the list of Chapters, click here.
Is the urgency about climate change as dire as climate aficionados are saying? Should a small oil company owner sell now before the demand for oil drops?” More on this book>>
To buy this book, Click here and enter the code AUTHOR40 for a 40% discount.
To read the press release click here.
Reviews
“A very well written book, with good spread of chapters, well sourced, a much needed documentation which describes a key topic of our times in down to earth (accesible to all regardless their technical background) manner.” ~ Ion Ispas, Ph.D., Associate Professor, George P. Livermore Chair, Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas Tech University
“Dr. Palmer presents a balanced and objective view of an industry which receives a great deal of criticism these days, and yet provides a commodity without which our modern society cannot currently function. He tells the reader how we got to this point of energy dependence and how even the large oil companies are investing resources in alternative sources of energy such as hydrogen, ammonia, solar and wind energy among others. It is clear that change is coming in energy production and consumption. Dr. Palmer sets out a clear vision of what is being done and what needs to be done to make the eventual transition from fossil fuel to renewables. It is a book that will serve the oil and gas industry insider as well as the person on the street who is concerned about getting to work, and the health of the planet.” ~ Randy Bunn, Attorney, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“This book is a great insight on the importance of our planet’s energy future and the direction of mankind!” ~ Cliff Taylor, an oilman from Oklahoma.
“There is a lot of information, well-sourced, and the key takeaways serve as solid reinforcement for the reader“. ~ Bill Strobel, President, Zeeospheres Ceramics LLC.
Republished from Forbes.com

Simple Facts Behind The Endangerment Finding Of Carbon Emissions.
Originally published on Forbes.com on February 15, 2026
Direct effects of global warming are worsening, while extreme weather events are not. Both have to be properly weighted to assess endangerment. Read More>>

Investment Opportunities in the Hot Global Market For Electric Power
Originally published on Forbes.com on February 12, 2026
Investments in fossil and renewable power are examined. LNG projections are captivating, with growth markets in liquefaction, regasification, and marine infrastructure. Read More on this blog>>

Can China Stop Electricity Prices From Going Up In The U.S?
Originally published on Forbes.com on February 5, 2026
After stern warnings from NERC about future outages, a report from the Permian reveals a stunning power shortage experienced now by an oil and gas company. Read More>>

Hard Facts About Greenland’s Oil And Rare Earths
Originally published on Forbes.com on January 27, 2026
Do U.S. energy or mineral companies really want to dive into Greenland to produce oil or rare earths? Here are the answers and the facts behind them. Read More>>
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Recent Blog Posts
- The Ten Commandments are Sacred – but What if Another One was Added?This week, I spent four nites sleeping in a hospital room, helping an elderly friend who had pneumonia which can be a killer. My friend is home now, recovering slowly. It was a week with a lot of prayer, intense stress, and it made me think about a previous blog I had written, which I… Read more: The Ten Commandments are Sacred – but What if Another One was Added?
- Arizona Missed the Great January Freeze, and We Were in Scottsdale!Independence, Kansas, recorded 1F degree. And a couple from Minnesota said it was -25F degrees up there. In Dallas the streets were frozen. This was mid-January 2026. But in Scottsdale, Arizona, the temperature nearly every day of January reached 75 F degrees. We missed the Great Freeze, and were very thankful. The country was the… Read more: Arizona Missed the Great January Freeze, and We Were in Scottsdale!
- The Eternal Message of Good King WenceslasThe Message of Good King Wenceslas One of my favorite Christmas Carols is called Good King Wenceslas. It was an English carol that appeared in my country when Australia was a British colony. Very popular carol in Australia. I always loved the story within the carol, which was written in 1853 by John Mason Neale,… Read more: The Eternal Message of Good King Wenceslas
- Christmas Letter for December 2025I woke up last week, sat up in bed, peered out the window, and saw these balloons close up. Only in Albuquerque! Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was quiet this year. Independence, Kansas, was too quiet, so we ventured to a casino, run by the Osage tribe, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. There we enjoyed a good Thanksgiving dinner of… Read more: Christmas Letter for December 2025
- How Were Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed?Encounters with Famous Scientists It is not often that I have had the opportunity to meet renowned scientists. On one occasion, I met James Van Allen in Florida. He is known for discovering the Van Allen belts—regions of charged particles such as protons and electrons that encircle the earth. Van Allen designed a Geiger Counter… Read more: How Were Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed?
Other books by Ian
Click on the cover to learn more and purchase the books
Latest Comments
Really beautiful, Ian. I am one of the recipients of your generosity and continue to be grateful to this day…
Thanks, Ian, for this information. Very interesting! Good to get the facts – increasingly difficult in our modern world.
Wow, Ian. Thank you for all the beautiful photos you sent in your blog regarding your time in warm Arizona.…









Testing on aug 11