Episode 6
We gathered with over 30 guests and seven brilliant finalists for the official Empire Technology Prize awards ceremony. The suspense in the room was palpable. Just a year ago, many of these clean-heating solutions didn’t even exist. To see how far the entire industry has come in such a short window was staggering.
But before the envelopes could be opened, we had one final, classic New York hurdle to clear: midtown parking.
While most attendees were worried about their acceptance speeches, our biggest pre-ceremony anxiety was finding a spot for our 8×20-foot industrial demonstration trailer.
We found ourselves idling at the corner of 8th Avenue and 33rd Street, scoping out a tight slice of pavement. After snapping a quick picture, confirming with local traffic coordinators, and using some precision maneuvering, we successfully slid the rig right into place outside the venue.
We set up the generator, angled our rooftop solar panels directly toward the afternoon sun, and watched as midtown foot traffic immediately stopped to examine the mobile plant. With the trailer humming beautifully on the streets of Manhattan, it was time to head inside.
When you put your heart and soul into a project, waiting for the final verdict is an emotional rollercoaster. Then came the announcement:
“It is my great pleasure to announce the winner of the Empire Technology Prize… Miller Proctor Nicholas!”
To say our hearts stopped is an understatement. It felt like an out-of-body experience. Winning the grand prize is not just a massive victory for the MPN team; it is an incredible validation for the entire engineering community, building owners, and the future of New York City infrastructure.
Our partnership with Oilon took center stage. Representatives from Finland were in the audience, visibly moved to see their native technology successfully adapted to handle the massive, legacy steam distribution networks of New York’s iconic skyline.
This win officially stamps our fossil-fuel-free steam heat pump as a trusted, verified solution for urban decarbonization.
This milestone didn’t happen by accident. It is the result of separate individual passions finally converging into a singular movement.
Looking around the room, the deep engineering lineage of our team became beautifully clear. Many of us—including our CEO Jamie Testani—share roots at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (King’s Point). Training in marine engineering fosters a deep, native appreciation for heavy industrial systems, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics.
Combining that strict maritime training with decades of real-world experience in automated controls, system design, and specialized boiling tech is exactly what allowed us to build an advanced mobile plant that no one else in the industry could duplicate.
Winning the Empire Technology Prize marks the end of a competitive chapter, but it serves as the launchpad for a massive corporate evolution.
Following our recent acquisition of the Mobile Steam Boiler Rental Company, we officially transitioned our corporate structure under a unified parent organization: Hudson Street Holdings.
Under this new organizational framework, our core mechanical business (Miller Proctor Nicholas) and our newly expanded rental fleet division (Mobile Steam Boiler Rental Company) both report directly up to Hudson. But we aren’t stopping there. Backed by our prize victory and undeniable market demand, we have built the skeletal framework to launch an entirely third business vertical dedicated exclusively to sustainability, green energy, and building electrification.
If our journey through the Clean Fight has taught us anything, it’s that field engineering is never completely predictable. For every flawless demonstration, there is a loose valve, a temperamental control panel, or a test rig throwing us a curveball.
But as our engineering lead Ian Motley says: “There’s nothing I enjoy more than solving problems. You just deal with them as they come.”
We set out to prove that you can protect the environment, preserve legacy heating infrastructure, and save building owners millions in operating costs all at the same time. The trailer is fully built, the market demand is skyrocketing, and the machine is officially running on its own.
Thank you to everyone who supported us on this incredible journey. We are just getting started—it’s time to bring next-generation heating to the real world!
Whether you require a comprehensive Building Decarbonization Strategy, Technical Emissions Modeling, or expert guidance on NYC Local Law 97 Carbon Compliance, our team is ready to assist.
Reach out to Hudson Clean Heat Representative Today!
info@mpnboilers.com
(914) 203-1907