NRG Buys 18 Natural-Gas Power Plants in Bet on Soaring Energy Demand

NRG Energy will acquire 18 natural gas power plants from LS Power for $12 billion, doubling its generation capacity to meet rising electricity demand from data centers. The deal, expected to close in early 2026, adds 13 gigawatts of capacity across nine states and positions NRG as a key energy supplier amid growing AI‑driven power needs. NRG’s stock surged 25% following the announcement, and the company is also set to acquire CPower, a demand‑response firm, as part of the agreement, the Houston Chronicle has reported.