This paper examines the development of community microgrids (CMGs) as a strategy to address energy equity in under-served communities that have faced long-standing energy and environmental injustices. By introducing three novel equity-oriented indices-Community Energy Financial Index (CEFI), Community Energy Resiliency Index (CERI), and Community Energy Sustainability Index (CESI)—we provide a framework to evaluate and address energy-related inequalities. The framework quantifies how deploying CMGs can systematically improve access to clean and reliable energy. A two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming model, utilizing Benders decomposition, is proposed to optimize CMG planning and operation under operational uncertainties. A case study of three energy-poverty neighborhoods in the Greater Houston area reveals significant improvements in energy equity metrics, such as affordability, cost-effectiveness, resilience, and sustainability, through targeted investment and strategic CMG planning. Our analysis demonstrates that, under various budget scenarios and technology selections, equity-focused CMGs consistently outperform the business-as-usual case and conventional approaches prioritizing cost minimization. These findings underscore the potential of CMGs to foster equitable, resilient, and sustainable energy systems for the future.

Keywords: Community Microgrid, Energy Equity, Energy Justice, Microgrid Planning, Benders Decomposition