THE POSEIDON DESALINATION plant proposed near Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach (Poseidon Water image).

The controversial Poseidon water desalination plant proposed to be built in Huntington Beach was unanimously rejected Thursday by the California Coastal Commission.

In a meeting in Costa Mesa, the panel heard hours of testimony before voting 11-0 (there was one recusal) to refuse a construction permit for the $1.4 million facility.

Proponents said that the project was safe and needed to provide water for drought-battered California. Opponents argued it would hurt the environment, be too expensive and wasn’t needed in coastal and northern Orange County, which draws much of its water from wells.

Gov. Gavin Newsom had supported the plant, saying that turning it down would be “a big mistake.”

Finland and maybe Sweden in NATO

Leaders of Finland announced on Thursday they would seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. According to The New York Times, Sweden will shortly also make application to join NATO, a military alliance created in 1949 to deter Russian aggression in Europe.

Russia has vowed that there would be some retaliation if those former neutrals joined the organization.

Also in the news …

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued subpoenas for House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and four other GOP legislators.

Sports: Idle Angels drop into second

Thursday’s travel day for the Los Angeles Angels gave the red-hot Houston Astros the opportunity to leapfrog into first place in the American League West.  Houston’s 10th straight win – this one a 11-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins put the Astros’ record at 21-11, a half-game ahead of the Angels (21-12).

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 9-7 to the Philadelphia Phillies.  That dropped their record to 20-10 and lead the National League West by one game.

In game six of their Stanley Cup playoff series, the Edmonton Oilers are leading the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in the third period.

High school softball playoff action Thursday saw two local teams lose CIF-SS quarterfinal softball games. In Division 1, Pacifica lost 7-6 to Roosevelt High of Eastvale, and in Division 6, Garden Grove lost 2-1 to Hillcrest High of Riverside.

Weather:  Nice and warm

The West Orange County area is getting an early taste of summer. Thursday was sunny in the mid-80s and the weekend will be similar. The forecast calls for a daytime high of 84 and an overnight low of 55. Saturday will be a bit warmer with a high of 86 (low of 60), but a cooling trend will develop on Sunday with the daytime high dropping to 78 under partly cloudy skies.