SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
                       April 3, 2009                 

PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
000-21467
(Commission File Number)
41-2170618
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 

400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, CA
95814
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(916) 403-2123

                                                                                                                                                            
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o                 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o                 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
 
 
 
 
Item 5.02.   Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
(a)           Not applicable.
 
(b)           On April 3, 2008, Joseph W. Hansen’s employment with Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (the “Company”) was terminated, effective immediately, in connection with a downsizing of the Company’s finance and accounting department. Mr. Hansen was the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and its principal financial and accounting officer.
 
(c)           Not applicable.
 
(d)           Not applicable.
 
(e)           Not applicable.

 
 
 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
  
       
Date: April 8, 2009
By:
/s/ CHRISTOPHER W. WRIGHT  
    Christopher W. Wright,  
   
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary