FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                        SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE


      THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE (the "Amendment")
is made and  entered  into as of  October  28,  1996,  by and  between  KENETECH
CORPORATION and CNF INDUSTRIES,  INC. (together with their affiliated companies,
the "Company'), both Delaware corporations, and JOEL M. CANINO (the "Employee"),
who was previously employed by the Company.


                                    RECITALS


     A.   The  Employee's  employment  with the Company  terminated  on or about
          September 15, 1996.

     B.   The Employee and the Company  entered into a Separation  Agreement and
          Release  dated as of October  7, 1996  ("Agreement")  under  which the
          Employee  compromised,  settled  and  released  fully and  finally all
          outstanding  matters  between the Employee and the Company,  including
          all matters relating to the Employee's employment, his separation from
          the Company and the termination of his employment.

     C.   The Employee and the Company now wish to amend the Agreement.

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises
contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and
the Employee amend the Agreement as follows:

     1.   Amendment.  The parties  hereby amend Sections 3(a) and (b) to read in
          their entirety as follows:

          "3. Terms of  Separation.  In  consideration  of the agreements by the
          Employee provided herein, including,  without limitation, the releases
          by  the  Employee  in  Paragraph  4  below  and  cancellation  of  the
          promissory  note from the Company to the  Employee  dated  December 1,
          1994  ("Promissory  Note") as provided in Paragraph  15(d) below,  the
          Company agrees as follows:

     (a)  In full  satisfaction of any claims by the Employee in connection with
          his employment or the  termination of his employment,  including,  but
          not limited to, any claims for  compensation,  bonus payments,  fringe
          benefits,  disability benefits,  ownership rights, severance benefits,
          change  in  control  benefits,   out-placement  services,   relocation
          expenses,  payments of  principal  and interest  under the  Promissory
          Note,  life  insurance  premiums  or  coverage,  membership  fees  and
          options, the Company shall, concurrently with the Company's receipt of
          the Waiver of  Revocation  described  in  Paragraph  11 below,  do the
          following: (i) pay to the Employee a lump sum amount equal to $429,000
          less all applicable  deductions,  and (ii) transfer to the Employee as
          owner/payor the Company's life insurance  policies naming the Employee
          as the insured issued by Security-Connecticut  Life Insurance Company,
          Policy Nos.  0008-47934E  and  0008-41548R,  free of loans,  and (iii)
          deliver to the Employee  restricted stock certificates as contemplated
          by Paragraph 15(f) below.

     (b)  The Employee has ceased participation in all employee benefit plans of
          the Company effective as of the Separation Date, and the Company shall
          not be liable  for any  payments  to or on behalf of the  Employee  in
          respect of any fringe  benefits,  except that (1) the  Employee  shall
          continue to be covered by the  Company's  health and group  disability
          and  life   insurance  plan  until  October  31,  1996,  and  (2)  CNF
          Industries,  Inc.  will provide  health  coverage  (i.e.,  medical and
          dental) to the Employee and his eligible dependents, without charge or
          tax,  from  October 31, 1996 until the earlier of June 30, 1999 or the
          first date that the  Employee  is  covered  under  another  employer's
          health benefit program without exclusion for any pre-existing  medical
          condition.  The  foregoing  health  coverage  shall  be in lieu of any
          continued health care coverage to which the Employee or his dependents
          would otherwise,  at the Employee's expense, be entitled in accordance
          with the  requirements  of Code Section 4980B by reason of termination
          of his employment."

          2. No  Modification.  Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment,
          the  Agreement  shall  continue  in  full  force  and  effect  without
          modification.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company and the Employee have duly executed this
Agreement as of the date first set forth above.


KENETECH CORPORATION


By_________________________                     ___________________________
Name: Mark D. Lerdal                                  JOEL M. CANINO
Title:   Chief Executive Officer                  Date Signed:  October __, 1996
Date Signed:  October __, 1996

Subsidiaries of
KENETECH Corporation                                              as of 03/19/97



CNF Industries, Inc.
(Delaware)


      C.N. Flagg & Co., Incorporated
(Connecticut)

      CNF Century Acquisition, Inc.
(Delaware)

            Century Contractors West, Inc.
(Texas)

      CNF Constructors, Inc.
(Tennessee)

            CNF Equipment, Inc.
(Delaware)

            CNF Penuelas, Inc.
(Delaware)

            KENETECH - CNF Texas, Inc.
(Delaware)

      CNF Power, Inc.
(Connecticut)


      Process Construction Supply, Inc.
(Delaware)


KENETECH Energy Systems, Inc.
(Delaware)

      CCF-6, Inc.
(Connecticut)


      Flagg Energy Development Corporation
(Delaware)

            CCF-1, Inc.
(Connecticut)


            CCF-3, Inc.
(Connecticut)


      KEM, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KES Bloom, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KES Chateaugay, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KES Chicago Heights, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KES Kingsburg, Inc. (Delaware)

      KES Kingston, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KES LNG, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KES Montego, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KES Penuelas Holdings, Inc.
(Delaware)

            KES Bermuda, Inc.
(Delaware)

            KES Bermuda, Ltd. (British Virgin
Islands)

            KES LNG, Ltd. (British Virgin
Islands)

            KES Penuelas, Ltd. (British Virgin
Islands)

      KES Pepperell, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KES Renville, Inc.
(Delaware)


      Mill Street GP, Inc.
(Delaware)

      Mill Street LP, Inc.
(Delaware)


KENETECH Facilities Management, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KFM Pepperell, Inc.
(Delaware)


KENETECH International Ltd.
(Delaware)

      9003-2301 Quebec Inc.
(Quebec)

      9007-8585 Quebec Inc.
(Quebec)

      Energia Eolica de Galicia, S.A.
(Spain)

      Energie Eolienne KENETECH, Inc./KENETECH Windpower, Inc.
(Quebec)

      Kenwind Industries Ltd./Industries Kenwind Ltee
(Quebec)

Kenwind Industries  Magdalen  Ltd./Les  Industries de la Madeleine  Kenwind Ltee
     (Quebec)

      KW Groningen B.V.
(Netherlands)


            KW Eemsmond B.V.
(Netherlands)



KENETECH Management Services, Inc.
(Delaware)


KENETECH Merger Company
(Delaware)


KENETECH Service Company
(Delaware)


KENETECH Windpower India Company Limited  (Mauritius)
(Mauritius)


KENETECH India Private Limited (India)
(India)


KENETECH Windpower, Inc.
(Delaware)

      AWP Plantas Eolicas, S.A.
(Spain)

      East Wind Limited (Channel
Islands)

            Windergo
Ltd.


      Fiberblade Corporation
(Delaware)

      GP WPP93 LP, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KC One Company
(Delaware)


      KENETECH Assembly and Test, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KENETECH Canadian Operations, Inc.
(Alberta)

      KENETECH Finance Company
(Delaware)

            KENETECH Project Company
(Delaware)

                        USW Altamont Corporation
(Delaware)

                        KENETECH Leasing Company

                              USW Delta Company

      KENETECH FSC, Inc.
(Barbados)


      KENETECH Solar Energy Ventures, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Altamont I, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Altamont II, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Altamont SCE, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Boulevard I, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Boulevard II, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Cottonwood I, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Cottonwood II, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Eemsmond GP, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Eemsmond LP, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Europe Project Development Limited Liability
Company

      KW Greenville Company
(Delaware)

      KW Hayward, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW India, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Jackson, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Kelso I, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Kelso II, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Kelso III, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Kelso IV, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Kramer I, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Kramer II, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Kramer PV, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW La Rumorosa I, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW La Rumorosa II, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW La Rumorosa III, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Llyn Alaw LP, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW San Diego, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW SCE, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW SDG&E, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Sidewinder, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Solano I, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Solano II, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Tehachapi II, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Tehachapi III, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Tejona, S.A. (Costa
Rica)

      KW Texas Manufacturing, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Texas, Inc.
(Delaware)


      KW Vansycle I, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW Vansycle II, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KW WPP94, Inc.
(Delaware)


      Northeast Windpower Systems, Inc.
(Delaware)

      U.S. Windpower 1983-1, Inc.
(California)

      U.S. Windpower 1984, Inc.
(California)

      U.S. Windpower Transmission Corporation
(Delaware)

      US WEG, Inc.
(Delaware)


      USW Concord Company
(Delaware)

      USW Fremont Company
(Delaware)

      USW Land Corporation
(Delaware)

      USW Midwest Windpower Land Company
(Delaware)

      USW WindRiver Company
(Delaware)

      USW WPP93 GP, Inc.
(Delaware)


      Wind Generator Parks, Inc.
(California)

      Windplant Operations B.V.
(Netherlands)

      Windpower Management Associates 1984-2, Inc.
(California)

      Windpower Management Associates 1984-3, Inc.
(California)

      Windpower Management Associates 1985-1, Inc.
(California)

      Windpower Management Associates 1985-2, Inc.
(California)

      Windpower Management Associates 1985-3, Inc.
(California)

      Windpower Partners 1993 (SCE), Inc.
(Delaware)

      WPP94 GP, Inc.
(Delaware)


            KW Transmission, Inc.

KENETECH Wood Fuels, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KWF Chateaugay, Inc.
(Delaware)

      KWF Wareham, Inc.
(Delaware)



U.S. Windpower Development Corporation
(Delaware)

NOTE: * designates entities with multiple parents.