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.

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...
Dominion unveils route changes for Valley Link Transmission line
Virginia

Dominion, Valley Link Transmission line developers unveil route changes

Sep 30, 2026
Shannon Heckt
One of the proposed routes of the controversial Valley Link Transmission line, which will stretch 765 kilovolt lines 115-miles across Virginia from Lynchburg to Culpeper, has been altered by developers, as Dominion Energy, Transource and FirstEnergy narrow down which path...
Want to weigh in on the Dominion-NextEra merger? Here’s where public hearings will be held.
Virginia

Want to weigh in on the Dominion-NextEra merger? Here’s where public hearings will be held.

Sep 29, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The State Corporation Commission will hold three in-person hearings to collect public testimony on the proposed $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, in addition to three anticipated days of testimony by phone. If approved by multiple state...
Spanberger proposes slate of data center regulations, puts first directives in motion
Maryland

Spanberger proposes slate of data center regulations, puts first directives in motion

Sep 25, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger last week unveiled a package of legislative proposals to rein in the data center industry in the commonwealth, with goals to tighten environmental regulations, increase cost allocation for the industry and make the proposal process more...
After Obama-era Chesapeake Bay executive order rescinded, environmental groups brace for fallout
Virginia

After Obama-era Chesapeake Bay executive order rescinded, environmental groups brace for fallout

Sep 25, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Virginia environmental advocacy organizations are trying to determine the full extent of impacts from President Donald Trump’s rescission of a landmark Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction law last week. “We’re still waiting to find out what all of the fallout is...
Clean Virginia: NextEra’s utility takeover attempts, alleged political moves relevant to merger case
Virginia

Clean Virginia: NextEra’s utility takeover attempts, alleged political moves relevant to merger case

Sep 23, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Clean Virginia, a clean energy policy advocacy group and an intervenor in the Dominion Energy-NextEra Energy merger case , told the State Corporation Commission in a Tuesday hearing that NextEra’s past political ties and attempts to acquire utilities deserve scrutiny...
“A different deal on the table”: AG Jay Jones asks SCC to reset the clock on Dominion-NextEra merger
Virginia

‘A different deal on the table’: AG Jay Jones asks SCC to reset the clock on Dominion-NextEra merger

Sep 21, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Attorney General Jay Jones told state regulators Friday that they should reset the 180-day review time period for the $67 billion Dominion Energy-NextEra Energy merger proposal, after the companies unveiled expanded conditions of the deal last week. On Sept. 14...
With US House control hanging in the balance, Wittman faces Taylor in contentious VA-01 race
Virginia

With US House control hanging in the balance, Wittman faces Taylor in contentious VA-01 race

Sep 21, 2026
Shannon Heckt
As early voting for the 2026 midterm elections ramps up in Virginia, the commonwealth’s 1st Congressional District, where Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman is battling Democratic challenger Shannon Taylor, has been thrust into the spotlight as one of the...
Spanberger presents slate of data center regulation proposals, puts first directives in motion
Virginia

Spanberger presents slate of data center regulation proposals, puts first directives in motion

Sep 18, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Friday unveiled a package of legislative proposals to rein in the data center industry in Virginia, with goals to tighten environmental regulations, increase cost allocation for the industry, and make the proposal process more transparent by...
Chesapeake Bay ospreys see worst breeding season on record
Virginia

Chesapeake Bay ospreys see worst breeding season on record

Sep 17, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay recorded their worst breeding season on record , according to the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary. The number of birds laying eggs has dropped 20% to 30%, a steeper decline than during...
Spanberger declares state of emergency as drought strains Virginia farmers
Virginia

Spanberger declares state of emergency as drought strains Virginia farmers

Sep 16, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Virginia farmers struggling with drought-damaged pastures will be able to receive larger hay deliveries under a state of emergency declared by Gov. Abigail Spanberger Wednesday. Spanberger’s Executive Order 21 temporarily exempts over-width hay deliveries from certain transportation restrictions, allowing hay...
Virginia’s federal lawmakers lock in on regulating data centers
Virginia

Virginia’s federal lawmakers lock in on regulating data centers

Sep 16, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Two members of Virginia’s congressional delegation have introduced bills designed to create standards for siting data centers in communities, amplify transparency about the facilities’ power and water use and protect nearby communities from international threats. “ As a country we...