Editor’s note: A few weeks ago, we published a guest post from the Network for New Energy Choices that was critical of American automakers for promoting corn-based ethanol and flex-fuel vehicles rather than embracing more stringent CAFE standards . A week later, NNEC published its report The Rush to Ethanol: Not All Biofuels are Created Equal. We contacted General Motors to see if they’d like to respond to the post and report; today, we’re publishing that response. We’re interested in the debate here, and we hope you’ll join in.

We’ve looked at the Rush to Ethanol paper, read media reports and listened to the arguments its authors have presented.

It seems the group supports Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) increases and endorses a sea change in American culture toward mass transportation more than reducing our dependence on oil.

The intention of CAFÉ was not to increase fuel economy, but to reduce U.S. gasoline consumption. If we found a better mousetrap and achieved the desired result, shouldn’t we consider it?

We don’t agree with many of the points presented in Rush to Ethanol. But we do agree that corn ethanol alone is not the ultimate solution. Corn ethanol, however, is today’s technology and it helps reduce U.S. gasoline consumption today.

In the near term, the best opportunity for reducing gasoline consumption, oil imports, and greenhouse gas emissions is through increased use of bio-fuels. And the bio-fuel with the greatest potential to displace petroleum in the U.S. is ethanol.

Consider the differences between CAFE and ethanol.

A 4 percent-per-year increase in CAFE would save 8.5 billion gallons of gasoline annually by 2017, less than half of the projected growth in American oil consumption.

In other words, even with this proposed CAFE increase, America will still be using more – and likely importing more—oil than ever.

But if all of the E-85 capable vehicles on the road today and committed to by the manufacturers were to run on E-85, we could displace 22 billion gallons of gasoline annually. And if all other manufacturers made the same commitment, the savings increase to 37 billion gallons.

That’s more than quadruple the savings that proposed CAFE increases would achieve. And it’s enough to reduce America’s oil consumption more than 10 percent versus today’s levels, and reduce CO2.

The vehicles are on the road today, but they are not being fully utilized because of constraints on E-85 supply and distribution. The automakers are doing their part, but the infrastructure side is not catching up.

With continued commitment from the automakers and energy producers along with support from government to grow bio-fuel production and distribution, including next-generation cellulosic ethanol, we can make a big difference.

CAFE has fallen dramatically short of its goals. And yet, for our nation, the original goals of the legislation are more important than ever.

It is time to address reducing U.S. gasoline consumption and oil imports, as well as the challenges presented by CO2 emissions.

The solutions are within our grasp.