AI Data Centers and Energy Grid

Axios reports that Bloom Energy, a long‑beleaguered fuel‑cell maker based in San Jose, has seen its stock surge more than 400% over the past year as AI data centers scramble for fast, reliable on‑site power. The company’s shipping‑container‑sized natural‑gas fuel‑cell units can be deployed in months instead of the years it can take to secure new grid connections, making them attractive to hyperscale cloud and AI operators. CEO KR Sridhar says Bloom went from "zero hyperscalers" engaging to "pretty much every hyperscaler talking to us" and has signed deals with Oracle, utility AEP and infrastructure giant Brookfield over the last 18 months. The latest earnings beat on Thursday pushed shares even higher, but Jefferies and other analysts warn that intense competition, fuel‑supply risks and a rich valuation leave little room for missteps. The story also revisits Bloom’s history of governance and disclosure controversies, highlighting how an earlier hype‑driven clean‑tech narrative is now being revived and reshaped by the AI power crunch.