The permitting bill enters a critical stretch

Data: Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy; Table: Ben Geman/AxiosThe push to pass a sweeping permitting bill is gaining powerful allies and encountering fresh resistance as Congress prepares for a post-midterms showdown.Why it matters: It's the most important energy bill in a long time.Cutting hurdles for projects is a top priority for fossil fuels and renewables sectors.But some environmentalists say it badly weakens crucial protections in the name of speeding reviews. Driving the news: A new, interactive analysis out on Wednesday projects potentially huge time savings if the bill becomes law.Transmission projects could see the biggest acceleration, per Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh, a researcher with Columbia's energy think tank.He based it on historical data about a large number of specific projects, then estimated how much quicker they would have proceeded under the bill.Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy doesn't have an institutional position on the bill. But founding director Jason Bordoff, a prominent voice in energy policy circles, is urging environmentalists not to oppose it.State of play: A who's who of economic and national security officials spanning s…

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