Headshot of Virginia Mercury reporter, Shannon Heckt.

Shannon Heckt

[email protected]

Shannon Heckt is an energy and environment reporter for the Virginia Mercury and is based in Richmond. She has seven years of reporting experience in Nebraska and Louisiana. Her previous experience is in the broadcast industry where she worked for several television stations. She is well known for her coverage of the Louisiana Legislature and disaster recovery. Shannon is a proud graduate of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. She's excited to call Virginia home and explore all it has to offer.

General Assembly calls off Oct. 26 special session to elect judges
Virginia

General Assembly calls off Oct. 26 special session to elect judges

Oct 19, 2026
Shannon Heckt
An Oct. 26 special session to elect judges to the Court of Appeals of Virginia has been called off because of scheduling conflicts, scrapping lawmakers’ return to Richmond. The session was expected to last at least three days, which Senate...
Dominion’s energy roadmap keeps fossil fuels in the mix, expands solar
Virginia

Dominion’s energy road map keeps fossil fuels in the mix, expands solar

Oct 19, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Dominion Energy plans to add more than 39 gigawatts of new power generation over the next 20 years as electricity demand surges across Virginia, according to the company’s latest filing with the State Corporation Commission . Over that period, Dominion...
Data center moratorium bills stack up ahead of Virginia legislative session in January
Virginia

Data center moratorium bills stack up ahead of Virginia legislative session in January

Oct 16, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Come January, state lawmakers will debate a slate of bills that would halt data center development, including one by Sen. Russett Perry, D-Loudoun, which recommends a three -year moratorium on building the high-powered digital warehouses. Perry has filed Senate Bill...
Chesapeake Bay gets a C+ in overall health, its highest score in 20 years of records
Maryland

Chesapeake Bay gets a C+ in overall health, its highest score in 20 years of records

Oct 14, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The Chesapeake Bay earned a C+ on the annual report card that calculates improvements or losses in key indicators of health and conditions in the estuary and surrounding areas. This is the highest the Bay has ever scored since the...
Chesapeake Bay gets a C+ in overall health, Va. and Md. leaders say work to protect it must continue
Virginia

Chesapeake Bay gets a C+ in overall health; Va. and Md. leaders say work to protect it must continue

Oct 14, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The Chesapeake Bay earned a C+ on the annual report card that calculates improvements or losses in key indicators of health and conditions in the estuary and surrounding areas. This is the highest the Bay has ever scored since the...
Subramanyam questions Loudoun transmission line route process, offers new paths for SCC to consider
Virginia

Subramanyam questions Loudoun transmission line route process, offers new paths for SCC to consider

Oct 13, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The debate over the final path for Dominion Energy’s controversial high-voltage transmission line project in Loudoun County continues, with U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, now urging the State Corporation Commission to consider three new routes that avoid cutting through residents’...
Roanoke region remains in emergency drought conditions despite rain in other areas
Virginia

Roanoke region remains in emergency drought conditions despite rain in other areas

Oct 08, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Despite cooling temperatures and repeated rain storms in central and northern portions of Virginia that have eased the drought conditions that were pervasive in the late spring and summer, Roanoke and the surrounding region is still experiencing emergency drought conditions...
After statewide tour, Virginia Lt. Gov. Hashmi officially opposes Dominion-NextEra merger
Virginia

After statewide tour, Virginia Lt. Gov. Hashmi officially opposes Dominion-NextEra merger

Oct 07, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The debate over whether Florida-based NextEra Energy should be allowed to acquire Dominion Energy and create the largest regulated utility in the country heated up Tuesday, with Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi pledging her opposition to the $67 billion merger...
State regulators to allow part of NextEra’s political past to be examined in Dominion merger case
Virginia

State regulators to allow part of NextEra’s political past to be examined in Dominion merger case

Oct 05, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The Virginia State Corporation Commission will allow documents detailing an internal investigation into NextEra Energy’s failed attempt to acquire Jacksonville, Florida’s public utility to be included in deliberations of the company’s $67 billion proposed merger with Dominion Energy. “I find...
EPA to give $90M for clean water and restoration projects in Chesapeake Bay watershed
Maryland

EPA to give $90M for clean water and restoration projects in Chesapeake Bay watershed

Oct 05, 2026
Shannon Heckt
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi announced Friday that the agency will disburse $37 million to localities to aid Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction and cleanup efforts. An additional $53 million in matching grant funds will be awarded to...
EPA to give $90M for clean water and restoration projects in Chesapeake Bay watershed, 28 in Va.
Virginia

EPA to give $90M for clean water and restoration projects in Chesapeake Bay watershed, 28 in Va.

Oct 05, 2026
Shannon Heckt
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi announced Friday in Smithfield that the agency will disburse $37 million to localities to aid Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction and clean up efforts. An additional $53 million in matching grant funds will...
Spanberger’s energy plan keys in on clean energy to meet growing demand and VCEA goals
Virginia

Spanberger’s energy plan keys in on clean energy to meet growing demand and VCEA goals

Oct 01, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Gov. Abigail Spanberger released the commonwealth’s latest energy plan on Thursday, marking the first long-range blueprint of her term for how Virginia can meet its growing energy demands and achieve the Virginia Clean Economy Act’s decarbonization and energy goals. As...