WAS yesterday a black day for the countryside or the dawn of an energy revolution that could cut bills, and create jobs in rural communities?

When he headed the Coalition David Cameron promised to lead the “greenest government in history” as he pledged to back renewable energy and reject fossil fuels.

Five years later and Mr Cameron’s credentials as an eco champion are tarnished.

The controversial fracking process is poised to take place across the UK after Mr Cameron's ministers yesterday awarded energy companies new licences to explore underground. They are consulting on plans to award more in sites that include parts of the North York Moors and Teesside.

The licences that are being held back either contain or are close to special environmental sites protected under EU law because they are home to rare species or habitats.

Fracking - short for hydraulic fracturing - is a technique in which water and chemicals are pumped into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas.

Anti-fracking campaigners claim the process is harmful to the environment and could cause water pollution and even earth tremors.

The extensive use of fracking in the US has prompted environmental concerns.

It has also brought down energy costs and created thousands of jobs.

The Conservative Government is determined to push forward with a shale industry in the UK. Whether exploration can actually go ahead is subject to local planning consent but ministers are so keen to see fracking take place they have introduced new planning guidance to make it easier for them to overrule or bypass local councils.

Greenpeace said yesterday’s announcement had “fired the starting gun for the fight for the future of our countryside”.

They also fear that fracking is distracting energy firms and governments from investing in renewable sources of energy, and encouraging continued reliance on fossil fuels.

By cancelling subsidies for wind farms and fast-tracking the development of polluting shale gas Mr Cameron has shown that his true colours are anything but green.