EXHIBIT
23.1
CONSENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Board of Directors
Pacific
Ethanol, Inc.
Sacramento,
California
We
consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statements (Nos.
333-106554, 333-123538 and 333-137663) on Form S-8 and (Nos. 333-127714,
333-135270, 333-138260, 333-143617 and 333-147471) on Form S-3 of Pacific
Ethanol, Inc. of our report dated March 31, 2010 relating to our audits of the
consolidated financial statements, which appears in this Annual Report on Form
10-K of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2009.
/s/ HEIN
& ASSOCIATES LLP
Irvine,
California
March 31,
2010