KOBE -- The lack of interest in solar power among residents of Kobe's Uozaki district does not discourage Mana Enomoto from giving detailed explanations of the benefits of this clean energy source.

Enomoto recently spoke before a gathering of Uozaki residents to outline a project in which solar-generated electricity is used to run electric cars used as public transport.

"Although there are many people who don't have a roof to put solar panels on, or cannot afford to buy such panels on their own, they can still create their own clean energy by investing money to purchase solar panels together with others," she said.

"Electricity generated by this system can be used to run electric vehicles for those, especially senior citizens, who need transportation in the community."

Enomoto is not a municipal government official, nor does she hail from the business world. She is a member of the nonprofit organization Community Support Center Kobe (C.S. Kobe), which works to support grass-roots activities to create a community that residents can both contribute to and benefit from, regardless of age or disabilities.

As public transportation does not fully cover Higashi-Nada Ward's Uozaki area, where about 2,000 aged people live, the need for such a system is high, according to C.S. Kobe, and would enable the elderly to get out and meet others or do volunteer work.

"There are many senior citizens healthy enough to do volunteer activities, but the lack of public transportation (in the Uozaki area) keeps them inside their homes," Enomoto said.

The project, called "Kuru Kuru" (an onomatopoeic expression indicating circulation), aims to create a sustainable community friendly to both people and the environment. Of the more than 50 projects initiated by C.S. Kobe since it was established in October 1996, Kuru Kuru is one of the more prominent.

The group started its activities to help residents in Higashi-Nada Ward after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in January 1995, which killed more than 6,400 people. It also supports small NPOs by providing management and other skills necessary to run various projects on their own.

Despite support from the Kobe Municipal Government and some businesses, Kuru Kuru still faces many difficulties.

The biggest question is whether the project will pay. An electric vehicle needs 10 kw of electricity to run each day and requires charging via solar panels, which cost about 13 million yen.

The project's financial feasibility was also a main concern raised by Uozaki residents at the meeting, which took place in late February.

One participant expressed concern that the project might fall into the red, which would place a large financial burden on the community. Another asked whether the project would really benefit the community.

Takashige Kiyohara, chief of the local neighborhood council, said it seems many participants are still uncertain of the project's merits.

As C.S. Kobe hopes that promoting the project will raise the local awareness of the importance of taking part in making a better community instead of just depending on a local government, it plans to let a new group to be formed by local residents take charge of the project. Toward that end, the NPO has held more than 40 meetings with different groups in the ward to explain the project.

"Many people still take it for granted that a local government should provide various services for the community," Enomoto said. "But what is important is the people's initiative to create a better community in partnership with a local government."

While it always takes time to change people's attitudes, some have come to realize the importance of initiative. Nobuhiro Myochin, a participant in the Uozaki meeting, said local residents must present specific ideas to make the project feasible and user-friendly.

"We should not continue to rely on C.S. Kobe, because it is the users who need to come up with specific ideas on how we want to use the system for the community's benefit," he said.