Energy: In Hawaii, grants for car battery recharge plugs in homes, malls, etc.
Financial Services: Fannie Mae easing up condo rules
Small Business: Short-term interest free loans through SBA

Energy
Hawaii . . . a giant test lab for electric cars? The Aloha State’s small land area makes it ideal . . . car trips are relatively short, so less need for frequent recharging.
The state aims to provide grants to electric car buyers plus tax credits for installation of car battery recharge plugs at existing homes. All newly built homes will be required to have the plugs. In addition, the plan is for a statewide network of 70,000 to 100,000 vehicle charging spots at shopping malls, service stations, beaches, restaurants, retail storefronts and so on. Plus battery exchange stations where drivers in a hurry can swap depleted batteries for fully powered ones.
Taking the lead in supplying compatible cars: A Renault-Nissan alliance.
The first commercial versions of all-electric cars will hit the Hawaiian market in 2010.

Financial Services
Condominium developers and owners, take heart: Fannie Mae is easing up.
The mortgage lender won’t officially rescind March 1 rule changes making it harder for developers to finance projects and potential condo buyers to get mortgages. But . . . It will break its own rules more often. For projects that stand a good chance of success, Fannie Mae will waive a requirement that at least 70% of units be presold to get loans. Since March 1, it has done so for 90 projects and is spreading the word to other developers. The lender also wants to cut potential condo buyers some slack. New rules stipulate no mortgages unless at least 51% of units are occupied by owners,no entity owns more than 10% of units and 85% of owners are current on condo fees.

Small Business
Coming soon through SBA: Short-term interest free loans . . . up to $35,000 for no more than six months, 100% guaranteed by Uncle Sam. They’re meant for usually solid businesses that need a little help paying down debt in this icy patch.
Payments begin one year after the loan is received and must be repaid within five.
Demand is likely to exceed supply, and SBA will take a tough line . . . limiting loans to firms current on taxes and with good credit and solid prospects.