<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS COMPANY  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE KEN10-Q 3RD
     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>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-27-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         10,167
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   8,619
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0 
<INVENTORY>                                       135 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               47,281 
<PP&E>                                         28,830 
<DEPRECIATION>                                  9,591 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                102,609 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         230,954 
<BONDS>                                        99,105 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          99,561 
<PREFERRED>                                         0 
<COMMON>                                            4 
<OTHER-SE>                                   (228,918)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  102,609 
<SALES>                                        32,050 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               33,522 
<CGS>                                          37,222 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  10,548 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             12,481 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (25,030)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        0 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (25,030)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0 
<CHANGES>                                           0 
<NET-INCOME>                                  (25,030)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.85)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.85)