<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE KEN10-Q 2ND
     QUARTER AND IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
     STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000807708
<NAME>                        KENETECH CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 JUN-28-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                              1
<CASH>                                         11,553
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   8,976
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                       135
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               50,040
<PP&E>                                         35,003
<DEPRECIATION>                                 11,707
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                109,080
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         210,857
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          99,561
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                            4
<OTHER-SE>                                  (116,962)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  109,080
<SALES>                                        24,898
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               24,898
<CGS>                                          24,644
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  24,644
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                8,301
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            (7,760)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (14,780)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (14,780)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (14,780)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.52)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.52)