The Knoxville Convention Center will be the site of the first ever Governor's Summit on Clean Energy Technology. 

The summit will take place October 14-15 and will be hosted by Governor Phil Bredesen and former Senator Howard Baker, specifically through the Baker Center for Public Policy.

Business and government leaders from throughout the region will meet to discuss energy and the environment to help make Tennessee a leader in clean energy development. 

According to the New Energy Finance research firm, $148 billion was spent globally last year on clean energy technology. Money went to further the development of efficient lighting, alternative fuels and renewable energy sources, mainly to wind and solar power.

Innovation in the clean energy tech sector is leading to higher skilled, better paying jobs. Gov. Phil Bredesen

"Innovation in the clean energy tech sector is leading to higher skilled, better paying jobs," Gov. Bredesen said.

"It also happens to be the right thing to do for energy and the environment.  Globally, clean energy technology could be one of Tennessee's next great exports.  We need to turn it to our advantage, and make it work for our great state."

The summit is an expansion of the Governor's Task Force on Energy Policy. Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby, who announced plans last July to build the first U.S. assembly plant in two decades in Chattanooga, Tenn., will be speaking on the first day of the summit.

President and CEO of TVA, Tom Kilgore and ORNL Director Thom Mason, who are both sponsors of the summit, will be presenting at the event.

Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker, UT President John Petersen and Appalachian Regional Commision Co-Chair Anne Pope are all scheduled to speak at the summit.