<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE KENETECH
     CORP 10-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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<CASH>                                          7,294
<SECURITIES>                                        0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                   4,669 
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0 
<INVENTORY>                                       135 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               55,314 
<PP&E>                                         28,704 
<DEPRECIATION>                                  9,810 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 90,586 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         204,095 
<BONDS>                                             0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          18,196 
<PREFERRED>                                         0 
<COMMON>                                            4 
<OTHER-SE>                                   (131,705)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   90,586 
<SALES>                                         3,170
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               40,993
<CGS>                                           8,895
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  45,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            (16,291)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (25,242)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        0 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (25,242)
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0 
<CHANGES>                                           0 
<NET-INCOME>                                  (25,242)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.92)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.92)