Where Bitcoin's power needs meet volcanos

One probably wouldn’t think that El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, would be particularly influential as regards the future of electric generation in the Pacific Northwest.

Surprisingly, he might.

Before Bukele took office, a currency experiment called Bitcoin Beach was underway in the El Salvadoran town of El Zonte. That experiment, which is ongoing, is aimed at demonstrating that it’s possible to use Bitcoin, or a Bitcoin derivative, as a day-to-day currency.

The Bitcoin Beach project has been somewhat successful. Bukele, inspired by it, is attempting to replicate the Bitcoin Beach exper...