The present and future for pure-plays: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Pacific Ethanol

Pacific Ethanol is a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels and high-quality alcohol products, and in some ways more importantly, they are a beacon for us to understand the future of pure-play ethanol and protein companies, going forward. Among the major players are mostly privately-held concerns, major integrated ag or oil & gas companies, or interesting outfits such as Green Plains aiming to diversify into an entire spectrum of industries.

Pure-plays, publicly held? A few years ago, there were a number of them. Through consolidation, it has come down to just a handful, and the largest among those is Pacific Ethanol.

Where are they headed, how are they faring — what new products, services, geographies, exports, markets, costs, policies and diversification options are challenging them or lighting a fire under their prospects? Here’s Pacific Ethanol’s latest look at its present and future, it’s illuminating.