XEnergy---Extreme Energy for Extreme Times

Their building is only 18 months old, but already Crossgate Christian Academy is looking to renovate, upgrade and expand. That's because it's School of Entrepreneurship has launched a business called XEnergy, and it doesn't like what it's finding.

Crossgate; located in Hot Springs, Arkansas; is small. They currently have an enrollment of around 200, but they are growing, bringing in 20 new students since the beginning of the year. Superintendent Bill Vining believes that the School of Entrepreneurship is a big reason for that growth.

"Each high school class has it's own business to run and every student is involved. They meet once a week, coming up with an idea, implementing that idea and then running the business. They have to devise a business plan, a budget, a marketing strategy. Everything that you would do to launch a successful business to the community, these kids do." Said Vining

And they seem to be doing it well. XEnergy is currently completing an energy audit of the school. They are looking at ways to conserve existing energy, to fight waste and use what resources they have more efficiently. Their long-term goals are what dreams are made of.

They want their school to be 100% dependent on clean energy. They plan to do this by building a windmill that will fit the location and the needs of the school. They also want to install solar panels to maximize the sun's energy.

Their business plan reads like that of a million dollar producing company. These kids are smart, and they aren't afraid to share that knowledge. Not only do they want to research and come up with ways to conserve energy, but they plan to lead by example. They plan to become a renewable energy leader in the state of Arkansas.

The first thing on their agenda it seems is to educate the public about renewable energy. When I sat in on class today, they were eager to tell me the problems we face.

"According to our research, the experts predict that we are past peak production of most known sources of coal and oil." One young man said. "Energy use is skyrocketing, especially in the schools. Most schools spend a considerable amount of money on energy and most of that is wasted"

Another chimed in: "Most schools haven't taken the time or effort to discover the possibilities of energy alternatives, and most consumers haven't been educated on these possibilities because the schools aren't teaching them."

Even though American schools have been teaching their students the need for energy conservation and developing new energy resources since 1973, very little has been done to actually implement the ideas!

So, Crossgate and XEnergy have set out do just that. They will start with their own school and see where the road takes them.