EXHIBIT
23.1
CONSENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
Board
of Directors
Pacific
Ethanol, Inc.
We
consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on
Form
S-3 of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. of our report dated April 14, 2006, relating to
our
audits of the consolidated financial statements, which appear in the Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. for the year ended December
31,
2005.
We
also
consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the
Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/
HEIN
& ASSOCIATES LLP
Irvine,
California
October
26, 2006