Today, the Senate’s voting results defeated Bill 2280: the construction of a 1,179-mile-long pipeline meant to deliver crude oil from Canadian tar sands to oil refineries and existing pipelines in the U.S., ultimately distributing over 800,000 barrels a day to the Texas Gulf Coast. The pipeline has been a hugely controversial topic for six years, ever since TransCanada Corporation put in the request for a cross-border permit to build.

Environmental leaders and many Democrats are definitely applauding this victory, but it was much too close for comfort: as of 5:55 PM on Tuesday, November 18th, the pipeline failed to pass by only one vote.