<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
     FROM KENETECH CORPORATION'S MARCH 31, 1999 CONSOLIDATED
     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 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>                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-1-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                              1
<CASH>                                         65,805
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     909
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               67,192
<PP&E>                                            729  
<DEPRECIATION>                                   (708)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 67,213
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          31,271
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                            4
<OTHER-SE>                                        262
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   67,213
<SALES>                                           431
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  431
<CGS>                                              56
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      56
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (2,222)  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 3,642
<INCOME-TAX>                                        0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             3,642
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    3,642
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.09