27 July 2021 20:48 GMT Updated 27 July 2021 20:52 GMT The American arm of oil supermajor Shell has finalised a deal to take over residential renewables retailer Inspire Energy as part of wider plans to expand its clean-power and low-carbon portfolio in the US. The acquisition of California-headquartered Inspire, which has 235,000 residential customers in the states including Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington DC, aims to “augment” Shell New Energies US’ existing market position as a home power supplier alongside MP2 Energy, bought by Shell Energy North America in 2017. “Our goal is to become a major provider of renewable and low-carbon energy and this acquisition moves a step closer to achieving that,” said Elizabeth Brinton, Shell’s executive vice president of renewable and energy solutions.