Posted June 4, 2007, at 12:03 p.m.

Cellulosic ethanol industry leader Mascoma Corp. has announced the addition of former Sen. Tom Daschle to its board of directors. Formerly Senate Minority Leader and later Senate Majority Leader, Daschle is currently a special policy advisor in the Washington, D.C., office of Alston & Bird LLP, a legal firm dedicated to innovation and technology in a global economic environment. He is also a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

"Sen. Daschle brings substantial leadership, ethanol industry and public policy experience to Mascoma," said company CEO Bruce Jamerson. "He will help us think strategically about our business and bring relationships needed to develop production facilities. I have known Tom for several years and am excited to be working together with him. He is an excellent addition to our board of directors."

"Mascoma has a first class team of executives, scientists and researchers, and investors, complemented by leading technology for the operation of commercial cellulosic ethanol plants," Daschle said. "As a U.S. Senator, I supported numerous public and private efforts to advance the corn ethanol industry in the Midwest, to the point that this is now a multi-billion dollar, domestic renewable fuels industry. I look forward to working with Mascoma, its investors, and its public and private partners to create a complementary cellulosic ethanol industry that spans the entire country and other locations throughout the world."