Pacific Ethanol, Inc. Announces Timing of Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results Conference Call

Reinitiates Conference Calls to Review Financial Achievements and Strategy

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 3, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (Nasdaq:PEIX), the leading West Coast marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels and co-products, intends to release its second quarter 2010 financial results post-market on Monday, August 16, 2010. Management will host a conference call at 7:00 a.m. PT/10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, August 17, 2010. Neil Koehler, Chief Executive Officer, and Bryon McGregor, Chief Financial Officer, will deliver prepared remarks and conduct a slide presentation simultaneously via webcast followed by a question and answer session.

The webcast for the call can be accessed from the "Investors" section of Pacific Ethanol's website at www.pacificethanol.net. Alternatively, you may dial the following number up to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: (877) 847-6066. International callers should dial 00-1-(970) 315-0267. If you are unable to participate on the live call, the webcast will be archived for replay on Pacific Ethanol's website for one year. In addition, a telephonic replay will be available at 2:00 p.m. ET through Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To access the replay, please dial (800) 642-1687. International callers should dial 00-1-(706) 645-9291. The pass code will be 91992580#.

About Pacific Ethanol, Inc.

Pacific Ethanol (Nasdaq:PEIX) is the leading West Coast marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels and co-products, including wet distillers grain, or WDG, which is a highly desired nutritional animal feed. Serving integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers who blend ethanol into gasoline, Pacific Ethanol provides transportation, storage and delivery of ethanol through third-party service providers in the Western United States, primarily in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho and Washington. Management seeks to choose destination plants with optimal distribution criteria for ethanol and co-products and currently manages two operating plants in Oregon and Idaho as well as two idled facilities in California. Pacific Ethanol's subsidiary, Kinergy Marketing LLC, markets ethanol from Pacific Ethanol's managed plants and from other third-party production facilities, and another subsidiary, Pacific Ag. Products, LLC, markets WDG. Pacific Ethanol owns a 42% interest in Front Range Energy, LLC which owns an ethanol plant in Windsor, Colorado. For more information please visit www.pacificethanol.net.

The Pacific Ethanol, Inc. logo is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5940

CONTACT:  Lippert / Heilshorn & Assoc.
          IR Agency Contact:
          Kirsten Chapman
          415-433-3777

          Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
          IR Contact:
            916-403-2755
            866-508-4969
            Investorrelations@pacificethanol.net
          Media Contact:
          Paul Koehler
            503-235-8241
            paulk@pacificethanol.net

Released August 3, 2010