I don't know about north america, but the sugar beet is used elsewhere. An ethanol producer here in Sweden is suggesting sugar beets. Looks better than say wheat, not to mention corn. Best efficiency is achived when the ethanol plant is operationg in tandem with a biogas (methane) plant, generation methane for the by-product. Or the by-product can be used as a high value animal feed.

France has substantial production from sugar beets, according to them one hectar of beets produces in excess of 8000 liters of ethanol. Or more than ~855 gallons per acre.

http://www.roulonspropre-roulonsnature.com/2007/04/02/comment-fabrique-t-on-de-l’ethanol-a-partir-de-betteraves/

The link i sin french, but google does a servicable translation.

855 gallons/acre from beets vs. 400 gallons/acre from corn.