Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom has waded into the debate about the government's plans to build a domestic fracking industry, accusing opponents of ignoring the "inconvenient truth" that shale gas can cut UK carbon emissions and boost energy security.

Writing in a blog post on the Department of Energy and Climate Change website, Leadsom said the fracking sector presented "an inconvenient truth for those who don't want to acknowledge the economic and environmental benefits that shale gas could bring, never mind the crucial role it could play in ensuring we have sufficient and reliable gas supplies".

The article came just a day after Al Gore, who made the phrase "inconvenient truth" famous in his 2006 climate change documentary of the same name, attacked the government's "puzzling" decision to slash support for renewables.

Leadsom insisted the government remained committed to meeting the UK's rising demand for energy, by "using clean and low carbon energy sources". But she argued this transition could not "happen overnight" and as such there was a compelling case for moving from coal to gas to provide a "bridge" to a low carbon future.

She also attacked anti-fracking campaigners for suggesting renewable power currently represented a viable alternative to increased investment in gas.

"The anti-fracking lobby seem to think there is a bottomless pit of bill-payers' money to fund renewable energy generation," she wrote. "There isn't, and even if there was, we would still need gas - as a reliable source of electricity when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow. Even as our reliance on fossil fuels for generating electricity reduces, we will still need to use gas for heating and cooking in our homes and for producing products including soap, paint, clothes and plastic."

The comments are likely to anger renewable energy groups, which are campaigning against the government's plans to slash support for wind and solar power, but have consistently argued that they accept the need for subsidies to be reduced and are working towards delivering power at a cost that is comparable with new gas plants. A number of recent analyses have suggested onshore wind and solar farms are already extremely close to competing with new gas-fired power stations on cost, even before environmental costs are considered.

Leadsom also cited the recent report from the industry-backed Task Force on Shale Gas, which concluded the development of a UK shale gas industry was compatible with meeting the country's long-term climate change targets and was necessary to act as a "bridge" while alternative sources of genuinely low carbon energy are developed.

"Gas will continue to play a big part in our energy mix for years to come and that's why the government is looking into the opportunity of using home-grown shale gas supplies instead of relying on overseas imports," Leadsom wrote.

However, she made no reference to the task force's recommendations that the government should use tax revenues from shale gas to fund the development of clean technologies and make "immediate progress" on demonstrating carbon capture technologies on gas plants.

Green groups remain largely united in their opposition to the government's fracking plans, arguing the development of a shale gas industry would result in significant local environmental impacts and would put intense pressure on the country's long-term emission reduction targets.

The government is also expecting to face increased political opposition to its plans, after new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn signalled he would campaign against shale gas developments.

However, ministers remain convinced the nascent sector can be developed in a way that minimises environmental impacts, reduces carbon emissions, and mobilises significant investment. Consequently, this summer saw a raft of licences awarded to developers who are now drawing up plans for a new fleet of fracking wells.