Maybe the trial was already 80%-90% complete before 1/1/2015 and customer only had to "tweak/adjust" the remainder thru the winter months and use the 5/1/2015 date to "finalize/customize" their financial package.
That is a fair question. I would simply go by what Richard Heddle said in his letter to shareholders dated January 21, 2015:
"The 120 day period includes pre-pilot production activities, the start-up, run, and required maintenance of the processor during the pilot. The Niagara Falls, New York processor #3 will be used in the pilot. In the past year that processor, and the rest of the Niagara Falls facility, has undergone extensive scrutiny and review by a national engineering firm. The facility requires minimal preparation to be ready for the pilot to begin. The beginning date will be determined by EcoNavigation."
So he was clearly as of January 21 planning to use the Niagara Falls location as the pilot. But even if Heddle suddenly changed his mind a couple of hours after releasing this letter (does not seem likely), how could PTOI ship the processor parts, assemble them including tanks and supporting infrastructure, start them up, get them permitted, and run a pilot in 3 months? And do this all without an update to shareholders?
People are entitled to their opinions obviously, but I think the more logical conclusion is the pilot has NOT been executed and that is what eyewitness reports including your own indicate. Now based on history that does not preclude the company from announcing "great news"! Again I do appreciate your post and question.