Pacific Ethanol to Present at the Stephens Spring Investment Conference

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (Nasdaq:PEIX), the leading marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States, announced today that it is scheduled to present at the Stephens Spring Investment Conference to be held at the New York Palace Hotel in New York City. Neil Koehler, President and CEO, and Bryon McGregor, CFO, will be presenting at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

A live audio webcast and archive of management's presentation will be available for 90 days at the company's website at http://www.pacificethanol.net.

About Pacific Ethanol, Inc.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (Nasdaq:PEIX) is the leading marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States. Pacific Ethanol also sells co-products, including wet distillers grain, or WDG, which is a highly valuable 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. New PE Holdco, LLC owns four ethanol production facilities which are managed by Pacific Ethanol and located near their ethanol and by-product customers, offering significant timing, transportation cost and logistical advantages. Pacific Ethanol owns 20% of New PE Holdco. The four production facilities consist of three operating plants in Oregon, Idaho and California and one idled facility 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. 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: IR Agency Contact:
         Becky Herrick
         Lippert / Heilshorn & Assoc.
         415-433-3777
         Investorrelations@pacificethanol.net
         
         Company IR Contact
         Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
         916-403-2755
         866-508-4969
         
         Media Contact:
         Paul Koehler
         Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
         503-235-8241
         paulk@pacificethanol.net

Image: company logo

Released May 10, 2011