Section 35.10055 - Selection criteria(a) The Administrator shall assign weights to selection criteria in the first Notice of Funding Availability published in accordance with section 4(a), and adjusted weights in future Notices of Funding Availability to address changing circumstances and priorities. The following thirteen selection criteria will be used for evaluating and selecting among eligible projects to receive credit assistance:(1) The extent to which the project is nationally or regionally significant, with respect to the generation of economic and public health benefits;(2) The likelihood that assistance under this subtitle would enable the project to proceed at an earlier date than the project would otherwise be able to proceed;(3) The extent to which the project uses new or innovative approaches such as the use of energy efficient parts and systems, or the use of renewable or alternate sources of energy; green infrastructure; and the development of alternate sources of drinking water through desalination, aquifer recharge or water recycling;(4) The extent to which the project protects against extreme weather events, such as floods or hurricanes, as well as the impacts of climate change;(5) The extent to which the project helps maintain or protect the environment or public health;(6) The extent to which a project serves regions with significant energy exploration, development, or production areas;(7) The extent to which a project serves regions with significant water resource challenges, including the need to address water quality concerns in areas of regional, national, or international significance; water quantity concerns related to groundwater, surface water, or other resources; significant flood risk; water resource challenges identified in existing regional, state, or multistate agreements; and water resources with exceptional recreational value or ecological importance;(8) The extent to which the project addresses identified municipal, state, or regional priorities;(9) The readiness of the project to proceed toward development, including a demonstration by the obligor that there is a reasonable expectation that the contracting process for construction of the project can commence by not later than 90 days after the date on which a Federal credit instrument is obligated for the project under this subtitle; and(10) The extent to which the project financing plan includes public or private financing in addition to assistance under this subtitle;(11) The extent to which assistance under this subtitle reduces the contribution of Federal assistance to the project;(12) The extent to which the project addresses needs for repair, rehabilitation or replacement of a treatment works, community water system, or aging water distribution or wastewater collection system; and(13) The extent to which the project serves economically stressed communities, or pockets of economically stressed rate payers within otherwise non-economically stressed communities.(b) The Administrator may include additional weighted criteria in the Notice of Funding Availability to address changing circumstances and priorities.(c) In addition, 33 U.S.C. 3907(a)(1)(D)(i) conditions a project's approval for credit assistance on receipt of a preliminary rating opinion letter indicating that the project's senior debt obligations have the potential to attain an investment-grade rating.