AI's energy appetite gives fuel cell maker Bloom a big stock boost

Shares of Bloom Energy jumped more than 14% on Wednesday, making it one of the top performers in the S&P 500. The rally was triggered by positive signals about sustained demand for artificial intelligence from cloud computing provider CoreWeave, which relies heavily on data centers.

The surge highlights how Bloom Energy, a maker of solid oxide fuel-cell systems, is increasingly tied to the fortunes of the AI boom. Its technology provides on-site power generation for data centers, a sector that's facing growing scrutiny over its massive energy consumption. The takeaway: Wall Street sees AI's voracious energy needs as a long-term tailwind for companies like Bloom that can help power the digital economy.