FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
KOEHLER NEIL M
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. [PEIX] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President & CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
400 CAPITOL MALL, SUITE 2060		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/22/2008
(Street)

SACRAMENTO,, CA 95814		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (1) (2) (3) 05/22/2008   P   256,410     (1)(2)(3)   (1)(2)(3) Common Stock 769,230 (1) (2) 256,410 D  
Common Stock Warrant (Right to Buy) $ 7 05/22/2008   P   384,615   11/23/2008 05/22/2018 Common Stock 384,615 (1) (2) 384,615 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
KOEHLER NEIL M
400 CAPITOL MALL, SUITE 2060
SACRAMENTO,, CA 95814		   X     President & CEO  

Signatures

 /s/ Neil Koehler   05/22/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) On May 22, 2008, Neil M. Koehler, acquired 256,410 shares of the issuer's Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock") and a Warrant to purchase 384,615 shares of the issuer's Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $5,000,000. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible at Mr. Koehler's option into that number of shares of the issuer's Common Stock equal to: (i) $19.50, divided by (ii) the conversion price in effect at the time of conversion. The conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock is currently fixed at $6.50, but is subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments as set forth in the Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the Series B Preferred Stock (the "Certificate of Designations"); provided, that the anti-dilution adjustments set forth in the Certificate of Designations are subject to certain limitations as set forth in a related Securities Purchase Agreement.
(2) Using the current conversion price, Mr. Koehler's 256,410 shares of Series B Preferred Stock are convertible into 769,230 shares of the issuer's Common Stock. Mr. Koehler's right to convert the Series B Preferred Stock does not expire.
(3) The Series B Preferred Stock shall, upon the occurrence of certain events, automatically convert into Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designations.

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