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 is nearing a roughly $30 billion deal to acquire power producer Calpine, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, a move that would significantly expand Constellation's generation assets at a time of rising U.

Separately, Calpine and Constellation are already among the largest power generation companies in the country.