A US university is believed to be the first in the country to use gas from a rubbish dump as its main energy source. The University of New Hampshire will pump purified gas from a landfill site through 12.7 miles of underground pipeline. The gas will satisfy 80 to 85 per cent of the university's energy needs and replace commercial natural gas as the main fuel in its generation plant. The estimated cost of the project, including the construction of a second generator, is $45 million. The scheme should be in place by autumn 2008. The university said the new gas source would stabilise its fluctuating energy costs and help it to get most of its energy from a renewable source.