<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM CALPINE
CORPORATION'S  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF  OPERATIONS  FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED  SEPTEMBER 30,
2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS

<CIK> 0000916457
<NAME> CALPINE CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         1,082,896
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  367,436
<ALLOWANCES>                                   3,687
<INVENTORY>                                    27,747
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,582,328
<PP&E>                                         5,135,094
<DEPRECIATION>                                 324,957
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 7,233,967
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          358,313
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          1,122,828
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       279
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,973,278
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   7,233,967
<SALES>                                        1,092,930
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,277,977
<CGS>                                          675,320
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  801,054
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               65,873
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             55,996
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                356,942
<INCOME-TAX>                                   140,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            216,942
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                1,235
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   215,707
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.75