GREEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- "This community, which is less than a square mile, to me is the most beautiful square mile God ever put on Earth, and we're very dedicated to keeping things going," said Green Island Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan.

The answer may lie with the Green Island Power Authority. The clean energy plant has proposed a $1 million expansion project which has the potential to create more than 2,000 jobs.

"Low-cost power is the key to our economic development in Green Island," said the mayor. "If we do not have that low-cost power, we're going to be a ghost town in a few years."

"It's our little stimulus project here in Green Island," said Senator Chuck Schumer.

The plant plans to expand its generating capacity from 6 megawatts to 48 - a 200 percent increase in power. In order to go forward, however, they'll need license from the Federal Regulatory Commission - a process that could take up to two years.

Schumer said, "Two years is too long to wait, especially in this economy."

Schumer said he is now trying to expedite that process, and initial indications from the FRC do look good.