Outcry over Esty chat with utility investors delays Senate vote

The state Senate postponed a vote on a renewable energy bill Wednesday after environmentalists raised questions about the propriety of Connecticut's top energy official discussing the measure Tuesday in a wide-ranging conference call with stock analysts and investors.

Daniel C. Esty, the commissioner of energy and environmental protection, who talked about energy issues on a call arranged by UBS Securities, hastened to apologize to legislators for what he called a matter of clumsy timing.