Shawnee, Oklahoma -- What was once unused land on the northwest corner of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee is being transformed into a long‑term investment in clean energy, sustainability and community health.
Approximately 1.5 acres of hospital property near W. MacArthur Street and Kethley Road are now home to a solar panel field that will generate renewable energy for the Shawnee campus. The project marks the first SSM Health solar installation in Oklahoma and is part of a broader systemwide strategy to reduce emissions and strengthen energy resilience across the organization.
The solar panels will operate in parallel with the hospital’s existing energy provider, reducing—but not replacing—traditional power use.
“Initially, the solar panels will operate alongside our current energy provider service,” said James Larson, director of plant operations, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee. “While traditional energy will remain part of our mix, this project significantly reduces our dependence on it and marks an important step toward a more sustainable energy future.”
Funded as a system initiative by SSM Health, the Shawnee project was selected due to the availability of land at the hospital site. As similar projects expand across Oklahoma, future installations may utilize alternative locations, such as parking structure rooftops, to accommodate geographic limitations.
The Shawnee installation is part of a significant investment by SSM Health in renewable energy aimed at powering healthcare facilities with cleaner, more reliable sources. SSM Health is committed to cutting emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net‑zero emissions by 2050. The organization’s first solar project was completed at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois, with additional projects in process and planned across the four states SSM Health serves: Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.
For Shawnee, hospital leaders say the project reflects a broader responsibility—one that extends beyond patient care.
“This solar installation is a tangible investment in the health of our community and our planet,” said Angi Mohr, President of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee. “By converting unused land into clean energy production, we are reducing our carbon footprint today while advancing SSM Health’s long‑term commitment to renewable energy and our pledge to achieve net‑zero emissions by 2050. This project reflects how we lead responsibly—by building resilience, sustainability, and stewardship into everything we do.”
SSM Health has been focused on environmental stewardship for more than 25 years, with initiatives ranging from reducing single‑use plastics to diverting surgical waste from landfills, incorporating WELL standards into facility design, planting trees and investing in environmentally responsible funds.
Two engineering firms were selected to complete the Shawnee project—Mission Energy, which provided architectural planning, and Iron Energy, which handled installation. Solar panels typically have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years, making the project a long‑term step toward sustainability.
Construction is expected to be completed by mid‑June, bringing clean energy online for the Shawnee campus and positioning the hospital as a regional leader in renewable innovation.
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About SSM Health in Oklahoma
SSM Health in Oklahoma includes St. Anthony Hospital (Oklahoma City), Bone & Joint Hospital at St. Anthony (Oklahoma City), SSM Health Outpatient Center (Oklahoma City), St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee (Shawnee, Okla.), St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee, Seminole Campus (Seminole, Okla.), St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest (Midwest City, Okla.), and SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital, an SSM Health Select Medical partnership (Oklahoma City). The SSM Health network in Oklahoma also includes five SSM Health St. Anthony Healthplex campuses, seven managed hospitals, 17 rural affiliated hospitals and SSM Health Medical Group with more than 350 physicians and providers.
