Soaring AI power demand has Google, Microsoft and Amazon scrambling for more energy sources

Big Tech is in the midst of a spending spree on creative ways to make energy in the U.S., as AI drives data center power demand through the roof. Hydrogen, fusion, fission and geothermal are getting hundreds of millions from the likes of OpenAI's Sam Altman, Microsoft, Google and Amazon. But China is outspending the U.S. in some areas, and DeepSeek has cast doubt on energy needs. CNBC goes behind the scenes at two energy start-ups to see their plans for low-carbon, scalable, affordable energy.