"We are moving too quickly," stated Jean-Pierre Door, a conservative lawmaker representing frustrated constituents. The town of Montargis was at the heart of the Yellow Vest movement three years ago, sparked by a rise in gasoline taxes but fueled by a broader sense of disenchantment among those on the outskirts of France. This movement highlighted the resentment of working-class individuals in rural areas towards urban elites who could easily adapt to clean energy solutions. Today, as global climate talks take place in Glasgow, the economic and political divisions that led to unrest in France are still simmering beneath the surface. While many in rural areas recognize the need for clean energy, the immediate concern is financial struggles rather than environmental ones. Household gas prices have increased by 12.6% in the last month, due in part to shortages related to the coronavirus. Electric cars, which were once promoted as a more affordable option for fuel-efficient transportation, now seem extravagantly priced. Some residents are opposed to wind turbines being built in their area, as they fear it will decrease property values. A resident near Montargis suggested installing wind turbines in a park in Paris instead. President Emmanuel Macron is facing challenges with the transition to clean energy as he approaches an upcoming election. He has presented himself as a green fighter, although practical, but is aware that participating in the Yellow Vest protests again would harm his chances in the election. Every morning, at her farm a short distance away from the town, Cannault looks out from her doorstep at a newly built 390-foot mast to measure wind levels for potential turbines. "We were never consulted about this." The only sounds on a misty, damp morning were the honking of geese and the crowing of roosters as she spoke. Claude Madec-Cleï, the mayor of the nearby village of Griselles, agreed, "We are being overlooked." President Macron is trying to win over the Green party. As the election approaches, Macron is trying to gain support from various groups and is determined to prevent another uprising like the Yellow Vests. The government has decided to freeze household gas prices and will be providing an "energy check" of $115 to 6 million people deemed most in need. Additionally, an "inflation indemnity" of the same amount will be given to around 38 million individuals earning less than $2,310 per month. The rise in gasoline prices has been a major factor behind these initiatives. Sophie Tissier, who organized a Yellow Vest protest in Paris in 2019, expressed difficulty in restarting the movement due to a heavy police response, despite the presence of a serious social crisis and widespread anger. She highlighted the extreme inequalities in France that hinder the country from making an ecological transition. The president's energy proposals aim to develop new small-reactor nuclear power while also embracing wind power and other renewables. The Green movement advocates for phasing out nuclear power, which currently provides 67.1% of France's electricity needs, a move criticized by conservatives as regressive. Marine Le Pen, on the other hand, supports dismantling the country's 9,000 wind turbines, which contribute 7.9% of France's electricity production. Meanwhile, many French citizens, torn between environmental concerns and immediate needs, are struggling to adapt. One such person is Christine Gobet, who commutes 90 miles a day in her small diesel car from Montargis to her job at an Amazon warehouse in Orléans, where she earns about $1,600 a month preparing packages. Sitting in her car outside a garage after spending $3,000 to replace her diesel engine, she scoffed at the idea of switching to an electric vehicle. She explained that for people like her, electric cars are not a feasible option due to rising costs in everything, including groceries. She mentioned how they were encouraged to switch to diesel for being less polluting, only to be told the opposite now. She participated in Yellow Vest protests in Montargis at the beginning of the movement. She was motivated not only by financial pressure but also by a feeling of being ignored and ruled by elites. She left the movement when it turned violent. A traffic circle in Montargis was blocked for two months, causing shortages in stores. Despite these actions, she believes little has changed. She feels that Paris has everything, and Anne Hidalgo, the mayor and socialist presidential candidate, wants to ban cars from the city, disregarding those from rural areas who come to work. Calls to stop using fossil fuels and close nuclear power stations in Glasgow seem disconnected from the daily lives of working-class people like Gobet. At the age of 58, she represents a divide between generations. The younger generation, led by Greta Thunberg, is focused on the urgent need to save the planet. On the other hand, older individuals are concerned about environmental measures that may impact their quality of life, such as increasing energy prices and decreasing property values. The Montargis area is popular among retirees looking for affordable living near Paris, as well as immigrants residing on the outskirts of town. Taxi driver Gilles Fauvin, who drives a diesel Peugeot, often transports clients with medical needs to hospitals in Orléans and Paris. The potential implementation of a ban on diesel cars in the capital by 2024, coupled with the push to transition to costly electric cars, could have a negative impact on him. He expressed his satisfaction with diesel cars, despite their production of harmful pollutants. Yoann Fauvin, the owner of the garage and cousin of the taxi driver, is questioning whether electric cars are truly a superior alternative. He raised concerns about the environmental impacts of mining battery materials in countries like China or Chile, the carbon emissions associated with transportation, and the challenges of battery recycling. In front of him, a vintage green 1977 Citroen 2CV was undergoing restoration, while a diesel Citroen DS4 was being repaired. He mentioned that the business heavily relies on diesel, as the community looks down on energy transformation. Wealthy individuals are the ones switching to electric cars, while others remain unaware of the changes happening around them. Magalie Pasquet, a homemaker leading a local association against wind power called Aire 45, clarified that her opposition to 75 new turbines in the area is not a denial of environmental issues, as she actively recycles. She is cautious when it comes to traveling. She recycles organic waste. Instead of increasing the heat, she wears two sweaters. She is motivated by the environmental beliefs of young people. However, she thinks that the world has prioritized things incorrectly. She questioned why the landscape that attracts people to the area is being destroyed when the real issue is overconsumption. Local residents are not consulted and even the mayors have no power to prevent the installation of unsightly turbines. A friend, Philippe Jacob, who is a professor of management and marketing and also part of the anti-turbine movement, stated that the Yellow Vest movement was a result of increasing gasoline prices, declining purchasing power, deteriorating public services, and general dissatisfaction with top-down decision-making. He believes that the same issues persist today and that the situation is very concerning. People have invested their life savings in the region, but their concerns about planned turbines and biogas plants ruining the area are being ignored.