<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-14-001183.txt : 20140401
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-14-001183.hdr.sgml : 20140401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140401164758
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-14-001183
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140327
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000778164
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS [2860]
		IRS NUMBER:				412170618
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 CAPITOL MALL, SUITE 2060
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95814
		BUSINESS PHONE:		916-403-2123

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 CAPITOL MALL, SUITE 2060
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95814

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ACCESSITY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030627

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DRIVERSSHIELD COM CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20001115

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST PRIORITY GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sneed James R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001366900

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21467
		FILM NUMBER:		14734867

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AVENTINE RENEWABLE ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.
		STREET 2:		1300 SOUTH SECOND STREET
		CITY:			PEKIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61555
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>paceth_f3-sneed.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-27</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000778164</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Pacific Ethanol, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PEIX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001366900</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sneed James R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 CAPITOL MALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2060</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SACRAMENTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95814</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Ethanol Supply &amp; Trading</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11667</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-06-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10204</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests 33%, 33% and 34% on April 1, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James R. Sneed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
