Gov. LePage’s administration says the new technology will cut energy costs. Skeptics fear a drain on the power grid.

The four Democrats who want to be Maine’s next U.S. senator traded arguments Saturday about health care, foreign policy, the national debt and other issues during the first formal debate of the primary campaign.

At Saturday’s moose-calling contes, contestants brought paddles, trees and other props to bolster their chances.

After last year’s severe outbreak, the goal is to win a federal exemption to apply an expensive new product to seed potatoes.