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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001093691-10-000018.txt : 20100322
<SEC-HEADER>0001093691-10-000018.hdr.sgml : 20100322
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100322163321
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001093691-10-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100322
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100322
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100322

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Marsh Andrew
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001431827

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34392
		FILM NUMBER:		10696849

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		968 ALBANY SHAKER ROAD
		CITY:			LATHAM
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12110

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PLUG POWER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001093691
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL APPARATUS [3620]
		IRS NUMBER:				223672377
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1210

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		968 ALBANY-SHAKER ROAD
		CITY:			LATHAM
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5187827700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		968 ALBANY-SHAKER ROAD
		CITY:			LATHAM
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001093691</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLUG POWER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLUG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001431827</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Marsh Andrew</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PLUG POWER INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>968 ALBANY SHAKER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LATHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Plug Power Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.5942</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>184651</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $0.58 to $0.61, inclusive.  The reporting person under takes to provide to Plug Power Inc., security holders of Plug Power Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range specified above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerard L. Conway, Jr., Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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