Private companies energize efforts to combat climate change

David Mohler checked out of the St. Regis Hotel in Beijing on a snowy Monday morning, finished his business trip and headed back to the US.

One week later, US President Barack Obama would check into the same hotel during his debut visit to China.

Mohler is senior vice-president and chief technology officer for Duke Energy Corp, the third-largest US electric power holding company based on kilowatt-hour sales.