<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE KC10-K AND IS
     QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000807708
<NAME>                        KENETECH CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                     1                
<CURRENCY>                      US             
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<CASH>                                         17,208
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  17,904
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                       135
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               67,999
<PP&E>                                         31,549
<DEPRECIATION>                                  6,814
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                123,311
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         209,620
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          99,561
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                            4
<OTHER-SE>                                   (197,465)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  123,311
<SALES>                                        73,499
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               91,890
<CGS>                                          83,705
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 124,264
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             19,620
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (60,850)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   23,391
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (84,241)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (84,241)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (2.52)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (2.52)