With its gently rolling fields, grazing cattle and chestnut trees, the Corrèze départment in central France has long been a picture of tranquillity. Yet the peace is being disturbed by bitter disputes that have followed President Macron’s drive to accelerate France’s so far slothful move into renewable energy.
“I had one of my barns set alight with my cows inside. I burnt my arm trying to get them out but I still lost nine. Later, I was told there had been outside interference,” said Jean-Luc Soustrot, 47, a cattle farmer from the village of Saint-Pardoux-la-Croisille.
