Energy news in brief

** Amazon’s chief executive Jeff Bezos announces $10 billion in funding to help climate scientists, activists, and nongovernmental organizations — but without mentioning the company’s climate impact.

** A recent study by the University of Michigan and Whirlpool shows dishwashers are generally more energy efficient than standard hand-washing methods.

** Developers are expected to announce plans for a 128 MW solar project in South Dakota, which would be the state’s largest.

** The top-producing coal mines in the Illinois Basin held relatively flat production in 2019 despite declining U.S. coal demand. 

** Nearly 20 Iowa schools have used Volkswagen settlement funds to buy propane-powered buses, which supporters say is a cheaper alternative to electric models.

** -BBVA USA, as Trustee of the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust declared a monthly cash distribution to the holders of its Units of beneficial interest of $1,723,194.34 or $0.036971 per Unit, based primarily upon production during the month of December 2019, subject to certain adjustments by the operator of the Trust’s subject interests, Hilcorp San Juan L.P. for prior months.

** Cash-strapped Colorado farmers are supplementing income from underperforming fields by installing solar panels and selling electricity to Xcel Energy.

**  A Wyoming House committee passes legislation to allow small modular nuclear facilities.

** Experts say there is no “new normal” for Powder River Basin coal in the wake of company layoffs and bankruptcies — just an accelerating decline.

** The City of Pueblo, Colorado is hoping to install three electric vehicle charging stations as part of its commitment of moving towards renewable energy.