Pacific Ethanol to Participate in Two May Conferences

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 14, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (Nasdaq:PEIX), the leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States, announced it will participate in two investor conferences in May as follows:

• 12^th Annual Craig-Hallum Institutional Investor Conference. CEO Neil Koehler will host one-on-one meetings throughout the day on May 27^th. The event will be held at The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel in Minneapolis, MN.
   
• Cowen and Company 43^rd Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. CEO Neil Koehler will participate in The Closer Examination of Next Generation Bioproduct Technologies Panel at 2:45 PM ET on May 28^th, and will host one-on-one meetings throughout the day. The event will be held at The New York Palace Hotel in New York, NY.

Relevant materials for each event will be available on the investor section of Pacific Ethanol's website at www.pacificethanol.com.

About Pacific Ethanol, Inc.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX) is the leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States. Pacific Ethanol also sells co-products, including wet distillers grain ("WDG"), a 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, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho and Washington. Pacific Ethanol has a 96% ownership interest in PE Op Co., the owner of four ethanol production facilities. Pacific Ethanol operates and manages the four ethanol production facilities, which have a combined annual production capacity of 200 million gallons. These operating facilities are located in Boardman, Oregon, Burley, Idaho, Stockton, California and Madera, California. The facilities are near their respective fuel and feed customers, offering significant timing, transportation cost and logistical advantages. 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.com.

CONTACT: Company IR Contact:
         Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
         916-403-2755
         866-508-4969
         Investorrelations@pacificethanol.com

         IR Agency Contact:
         Becky Herrick
         LHA
         415-433-3777

         Media Contact:
         Paul Koehler
         Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
         916-403-2790
         paulk@pacificethanol.com

Released May 14, 2015