Newport Renewables is leading the charge toward a greener future, specializing in commercial and industrial-scale solar power projects, advanced energy storage solutions, and fully customized zero-energy homes. Their extensive range of services includes turnkey project delivery, pre-construction services, general construction, construction management, and comprehensive operations and maintenance support after project completion. Every service is designed to ensure clients receive seamless, expert guidance from start to finish.
Founded in 2010 by Mike Cabral and his friend Stu, Newport Renewables was born out of a bold leap of faith. The two sold nearly everything they owned, purchased a one-way ticket to the US Virgin Islands, and set off with little more than a surveying instrument and T-shirts emblazoned with Stu’s phone number. Their unconventional start would soon set the tone for the company’s resourceful and ambitious spirit.
“Basically, we land and hit the ground running,” Mike recalls. Their first break came unexpectedly when they began surveying an abandoned construction site. The property owner confronted them, curious about their presence. “He asked what we were doing. We said we’re just playing around with [the survey instrument]. I learned how to survey in college,” Mike explained. In a fortunate twist, the owner had been searching for a surveyor for six months. Mike seized the moment: “I told him, we can — we can build your house too if you need a builder.”
Their willingness to take risks and embrace new opportunities led them to sustainable building practices, focusing on solar-powered homes. Recognizing that renewable energy would soon take off back home, Mike and Stu returned to Rhode Island. In 2011, they opened an office in Newport to position themselves ahead of the curve in the emerging solar market.
“We wanted to get ahead of the upcoming solar industry in Rhode Island,” Mike said. Their first job stateside was a modest 16-panel installation for Jamestown Community Farm. Today, they manage projects featuring more than 16,000 panels, demonstrating remarkable growth.
Operating in a “fairly new” industry has meant constant adaptation. Newport Renewables has consistently stayed ahead, delivering several “firsts” for Rhode Island: the first new zero-energy homes, the first solar power installations for key state departments, and early adoption of battery storage projects for both public and private sectors.
In 2023, Newport Renewables moved into a state-of-the-art, 27,000-square-foot headquarters, complete with a material staging shop. This strategic move allowed them to manage the lingering supply chain challenges that began during the pandemic.
“It gives us flexibility with the crazy supply chain stuff that started in the pandemic and that’s continuing now,” Mike said. The new facility ensures that they can source and prepare materials well in advance, safeguarding projects against potential delays.
Celebrating their 15th anniversary, Mike reflected on what has fueled their success. “Our key to success has definitely been the team that we have here, coupled with a long-term approach and long-term thinking,” he explained. “It’s a rapidly changing industry, so you have to be able to adapt to the new technologies that come out, new regulations that are put in place. You can’t do all this without the team that we have in place. We definitely would not have made it this far, that’s for sure.”
“Our key to success has definitely been the team that we have here, coupled with a long-term approach and long-term thinking.”
The company’s youthful and dynamic workforce is a significant asset. Drew, another leader at Newport Renewables, highlighted their vibrant culture. “We’re still a younger company. Our average age is probably not even 40,” he said. “We try to keep it light and make sure people are having fun. Everyone who works here really likes what they do. They do what they love, and that definitely helps attract and retain talent and lets everyone perform at the highest level.”
Their passion and energy are evident in the many high-profile projects they’ve completed. One standout project involved constructing a private residence in Portsmouth, located within a flood zone. Mike described the project as “very cool,” noting its resilience features. The home is elevated on reinforced concrete piers, allowing ocean water to pass underneath without impacting the structure or residents.
The house is built with European-style windows and doors, featuring high-performance glazing and an airtight highly insulated, thermally broken building envelope including four inches of outsulation. “The key to building a zero-energy home is an airtight, well-insulated building envelope — that’s really your starting point,” Mike said. “Then you’re able to have an electric heating and cooling system due to the smaller loads from the efficient building envelope.”
All systems in the home, including heating, cooling, lighting, and plug loads, are powered electrically. A discreet rooftop solar array produces enough energy to meet the home’s total annual consumption, including charging an electric vehicle.
Another major achievement for Newport Renewables was their work on the RI Capitol Buildings in Providence. This project was one of the state’s first large-scale solar initiatives. They installed solar systems on three major state government buildings: the Department of Health, the Department of Administration, and the Department of Transportation.
Since then, they have continued to work with the state, completing projects for the Department of Public Utilities and multiple installations for the Rhode Island National Guard. “It’s been pretty cool to get to work with the state we grew up in,” Mike said. The company’s pride in serving its home state runs deep and reinforces its commitment to quality.
Among their early landmark projects was the Seaside House in Jamestown, a model of energy efficiency. The home featured a meticulously designed building envelope to minimize air infiltration and exfiltration, complemented by a high-end European style window and door package. Solar panels provide power for heating, cooling, lighting, plug loads, and an electric vehicle charger housed in the garage.
Mike summed up the financial logic behind solar investments: “When you have an electric home, the day you throw the switch and you turn that project on, you’re effectively buying a lifetime supply of energy from that project at about half of today’s rate, this is the levelized cost of energy” he said. “If your house is electric and your heating, cooling, lighting, plug loads, and driving are all produced by that solar array, you’re buying it at half the cost. We know that everything goes up by at least 3 to 5% a year in utility costs, and that’s probably a conservative number.”
Looking forward, Newport Renewables is optimistic about 2025 and beyond. They have a robust project pipeline but remain vigilant in navigating market pressures, especially those stemming from international trade conflicts. Although many of their products are American-made, some components are subject to tariffs and regulatory challenges.
“We’re just working on one project at a time and doing a good job, which leads to word-of-mouth recommendations and other customers,” Mike said. “Pretty much our whole business rides on a reputation. Rhode Island’s a very small state. Everybody knows everybody, so it’s really important to do a good job the first time. And if you do make mistakes, fix them quickly and move on.”
Fifteen years ago, Mike and Stu took a gamble, armed with a surveying tool and a dream. Today, Newport Renewables stands as a beacon of innovation, resilience, and community spirit in clean energy. Their story is about more than solar panels and sustainable homes; it’s about daring to dream, adapting to change, and committing to a future where clean energy powers stronger communities.
