Identifying projects and sites for clean coal power projects and geosequestration of carbon dioxide will be a top priority for the members of the CCC.

The premier also signed the Queensland Clean Coal Agreement with Ross Williams, chairman of ACA Low Emissions Technologies, on behalf of the coal industry.

The agreement formalises the coal industry’s commitment to invest $600 million in clean coal technology demonstration projects over the next decade.

Beattie said the meeting and the signing of the agreement mark the beginning of one of the biggest and most important investments in the state's future.

“The signing of the Queensland Clean Coal Agreement is another step forward in the journey to fully develop and deploy clean coal technology around the state,” Beattie said.

“Coal is a vital part of our great state's economy, worth some $18 billion a year, and many Queensland families depend upon it for their job security.”

The CCC was formed in July after the Clean Coal Technology Special Agreement Act 2007 was passed by the State Parliament in June.

Queensland Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said the agreement would benefit the environment, protect the long-term interests of the state's $18 billion a year coal industry and improve job security in the sector.

“Latest research tells us that clean coal technology when combined with geosequestration has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by more than 75 percent,” she said.

The CCC is made up of business, industry, government and academia representatives, including senior executives from Rio Tinto, Xstrata, Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) and Ensham Resources.