Constellation is buying power natural gas and geothermal power provider Calpine in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $16.4 billion, joining together two of the country’s biggest power companies.

Constellation Energy’s deal to buy Calpine is being driven by fast-rising demand for electricity in part by the technology industry’s investments in artificial intelligence.

Constellation Energy Corp. shares surged to a record high after agreeing to acquire closely held Calpine Corp. for $16.4 billion in a deal that will create the largest fleet of US power stations.Most