Bethany Kanten

Chief Operating Officer, SustainEnergyFinance

March 19 at 1:45 p.m. | Room 321 | Retrofitting Utah: Opportunities and Challenges for Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Utah's Housing Stock

Bethany Kanten brings a depth of experience in climate finance and inclusive economic development, with over a decade of experience designing financial products and capital strategies for underserved communities globally. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of SustainEnergyFinance (SEF), where she leads operational strategy and program development for clean energy financing initiatives across Utah.

Prior to joining SEF, Bethany was on the leadership team of an emerging markets focused climate-focused early-stage equity fund, where she played a pivotal role in fund formation—including legal design, blended capital structuring, and fundraising across philanthropic foundations, equity investors, and Program-Related Investments (PRIs). She also led the development of the fund’s investment process and impact measurement framework, aligning financial returns with climate and equity outcomes.

Earlier in her career, Bethany worked across Africa, Latin America, and India to deploy innovative financial products for energy access and financial inclusion. She helped launch consumer lending programs for off-grid solar and energy-efficient appliances, incorporating localized payment systems, proprietary credit scoring, and pay-as-you-go models. Her work with fintech startups focused on expanding access to clean energy and electric mobility in emerging markets.

Born and raised in Utah, Bethany grew up in affordable housing in Summit County, anchoring her work with SustainEnergyFinance in lived experience. She holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.