EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors Pacific Ethanol, Inc. We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. on Form S-1 of our reports, dated May 23, 2005, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Pacific Ethanol, Inc., Kinergy Marketing, LLC and ReEnergy, LLC appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in such Prospectus. /s/ HEIN & ASSOCIATES LLP Hein & Associates LLP Irvine, California November 28, 2005