SPOKANE, Washington — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Advantage IQ, Inc., a subsidiary of Avista Corp. (NYSE:AVA), with a 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award. The award recognizes Advantage IQ’s continued commitment to partnering with multi-site companies nationwide to manage energy cost and consumption. This is the third consecutive year that Advantage IQ has received the Sustained Excellence Award.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the EPA for our efforts,” says Stu Stiles, President and CEO of Advantage IQ. “We are proud to assist our clients in their energy efficiency efforts, and recognize the impact of automating the ENERGY STAR building rating process for our clients. Companies can do more, when armed with the right data.”

The 2009 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products; services; and new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

Advantage IQ provides sustainable utility expense management solutions, partnering with over 500 multi-site companies nationwide to assess energy cost and consumption. Clients are able to track, measure, and manage their energy performance through the company’s patented reporting system.

In 2008, Advantage IQ played a significant role in the energy efficiency efforts of American businesses. The company processed energy performance ratings for 31,566 buildings, provided energy management solutions to seven clients who were recognized as ENERGY STAR Leaders, and supported several others that were named ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year.

“EPA is delighted to recognize Advantage IQ with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award,” said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the U.S. EPA. “Advantage IQ’s leadership on energy efficiency has yielded impressive results for their bottom line and our global environment, showing us all what can be accomplished through sustained commitment and action.”

About Advantage IQ, Inc.: Advantage IQ is a leading provider of comprehensive cost management services for utility, telecom, waste and lease expenses, including strategic energy management services. Their patented technology and services provide multi-site companies with critical, yet easy-to-access information that enables companies to proactively manage and reduce expenses. Advantage IQ’s patented system provides online access to consolidated cost and consumption data, partnered with powerful analytical reporting tools. For more information about Advantage IQ, visit www.advantageiq.com or call toll-free 1-800-791-7564.

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Since 2005, Stu Stiles has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Advantage IQ, bringing more than 20 years experience in sales, operations, finance and executive leadership, and strategic energy management.

A quiet trend has been emerging as billionaires and other high net worth Angel Investors and Family Offices from Wall Street To Silicon Valley To the Middle East have been parking their money into Hollywood.

Larry Ellison Of Oracle, Paul Allen Of Microsoft, Steven Rales, Fred Smith of Federal Express, Norman Waitt, the Co-Founder of Gateway Computers, Jeff Skoll Of Ebay, Marc Turtletaub of The Money Store, Roger Marino Of EMC Corp, Sidney Kimmel Of Jones Apparel Group, Minnesota Twins owner Bill Pohlad; Real Estate Developers Tom Rosenberg and Bob Yari, and, financiers Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim and Philip Anschutz are all behind the finance of a lot of films that range from box office hits to Academy Award winners.

And the question remains “why?”

While the glamour of the movie business may be appealing to most, at the end of the day, it is still an unknown business that many try to gamble on, and only a handful come out as winners. The real key is to minimize risk, maximize profits, and offer a steadier stream of revenues than what other alternative investments may offer such as real estate, oil & gas, commodities, as well as risky hedge funds.

Well one Chicago/L.A. based media finance Company is taking a different approach in presenting its entertainment opportunities to the super rich as well as private equity groups. Instead of dazzling investors with smoke and mirror Monte Carlo simulation models that offer various IRR’s and scenarios based on unpredictable film revenues streams, it is offering an absolute return on investment using public tax incentives that in certain instances can guarantee 100% or more of invested capital prior to revenues.

Noci Pictures Entertainment is putting together a slate of films using an innovative hybrid public-private finance strategy aimed at investors who want to take a 100% Federal deduction against their ordinary income, get an additional 20-40% in state tax credits or cash rebates, have a hedge of revenues from 20-30 films, a possible exit IPO on the London AIM., as well as stimulating local economic development, and creating jobs, including for women and minorities. Oh, and the company’s team includes the former Vice Chairman Of A Major Film Studio.

Sound too good to be true?

“I don’t know of any other alternative investment that can offer tax incentives, multiple exit strategies, as well as giving back to the local economy, while being involved with the moviemaking process”, states Yuri Rutman, the head of Noci Pictures. “That would also add to the long line of recent film funds that have been structured with numerous hedge funds, private equity investors, corporate tax credit buyers, and institutions. Heck I don’t even know of any business that someone can start where they know they will receive an exact ROI before they see any profits”.

”I am also surprised how many investors, hedge funds, VC, tax planners, CPA’s, tax attorneys, public and private companies have no clue about these benefits”, Rutman adds. “Federal Preservation, New Markets Tax Credits, etc was the usual route for tax credit planning or alternative investments , but film production incentives offer a more liquid premium, equity, as well as little Hollywood adventure and schmoozing with movie stars.”

Rutman adds “Plus, I am reinventing ‘conscious’ film finance. A lot of competitor deals won’t be around in a few years because they didn’t do their homework. I want to be making movies when I am 90”.

I was a businessman engaged in the export and import, namely electronic goods. Lots of things I have managed to export or import I have to be sold in the country. With the success I have gained, of course related to the amount of income from the company that I have. But there’s a separate issue for me, which is about taxes. I felt very dizzy with the maintenance of tax I pay. And as a good citizen, I am aware of the obligation to pay taxes. Country taxes are needed to finance the construction of the Country. I feel the benefits of the tax, such as road conditions are good now, helped me when I will send goods to the port or airport for export.

Almost every time I’ll take care of taxes, especially income tax, I fell difficulty. And I had at this stage to propose a tax. I as a busy businessman who feel lost much valuable time. I am trying to find solutions of this tax problem. I feel very happy with the current technological advances. I can take care of taxes through the internet, I can do online tax preparation, and so on. And besides the benefits, as well as with the tax I paid, it was easier for me when going abroad, because it has a discounted price. Now, I always pay taxes in order.