Headshot of Virginia Mercury reporter, Shannon Heckt.

Shannon Heckt

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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.

In rare move, SCC orders three in-person hearings for NextEra-Dominion merger case
Virginia

In rare move, SCC orders three in-person hearings for NextEra-Dominion merger case

Sep 10, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The State Corporation Commission has ordered additional chances for the public to officially testify in the case to approve or reject the proposed $67 billion NextEra-Dominion merger , Virginia regulators said Thursday. In addition to the three days for telephonic...
‘Priceless to me’: Valley Link transmission line threatens generational farm in Orange County
Virginia

‘Priceless to me’: Valley Link transmission line threatens generational farm in Orange County

Sep 08, 2026
Shannon Heckt
“It started November 5th, 1910. My great-great-grandparents purchased this property for $722.50,” Michael Carter Jr. said at a picnic table outside the Orange County home where generations of his family have been born and died. As insects chirp in the...
Va. House speaker details ‘concerns’ about NextEra-Dominion merger in letter to state regulators
Virginia

Va. House speaker details ‘concerns’ about NextEra-Dominion merger in letter to state regulators

Sep 03, 2026
Shannon Heckt
In an official filing in the State Corporation Commission’s review of the proposed $67 billion NextEra-Dominion Energy merger, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, on Wednesday aired his concerns and advice about the deal in a...
Cumberland county residents split on proposed gas plant, slated to be second largest in the nation
Virginia

Cumberland county residents split on proposed gas plant, slated to be second largest in the nation

Sep 03, 2026
Shannon Heckt
In a crowded school cafeteria in Cumberland Monday evening, residents of the rural county gathered to hear Dominion Energy representatives detail the gas plant the utility is pitching to the local leaders and state regulators. The Cumberland Energy Center will...
Amazon changes course on water use for Virginia data center campus
Maryland

Amazon changes course on water use for Virginia data center campus

Aug 30, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Amazon Web Services is changing course on how a King George County data center project will get its water after an application to renew a groundwater permit allowing withdrawals of up to 6.4 million gallons annually from the Potomac aquifer...
New proposal from grid operator PJM would require data centers to bring their own power
Virginia

New proposal from grid operator PJM would require data centers to bring their own power

Aug 27, 2026
Shannon Heckt
PJM, the regional grid operator for most of the East Coast, is asking federal regulators to approve a rule requiring new large-load customers, namely data centers, to bring their own power supply to the grid. With Virginia among the 13...
Amazon changes course on water use for King George data center campus
Virginia

Amazon changes course on water use for King George data center campus

Aug 26, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Amazon Web Services is changing course on how a King George data center project will get its water after an application to renew a groundwater permit allowing withdrawals of up to 6.4 million gallons annually from the Potomac aquifer raised...
“Remember the little guy”: Kaine hears from Virginia farmers as Canada trade fight drives up concern
Virginia

“Remember the little guy”: Kaine hears from Virginia farmers as Canada trade fight drives up concern

Aug 25, 2026
Shannon Heckt
Just days after failed trade talks between President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prompted new sweeping tariffs and threats of retaliation, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., sat down with Virginia agricultural and forestry producers Monday to hear...
After eastern groundwater report detailed aquifer concerns, Va. lawmakers consider policy shifts
Virginia

After eastern groundwater report detailed aquifer concerns, Va. lawmakers consider policy shifts

Aug 21, 2026
Shannon Heckt
After the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality released a 117-page report indicating that available groundwater east of Interstate-95 is “declining (in) availability in the near future,” the agency pitched recommendations on how to tackle the issue to lawmakers Thursday in...
USDA advances Roadless Rule repeal; advocates, lawmakers say it puts 400,000 acres in Va. at risk
Virginia

USDA advances Roadless Rule repeal; advocates, lawmakers say it puts 400,000 acres in Va. at risk

Aug 20, 2026
Shannon Heckt
The United States Department of Agriculture is nearing a full repeal of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects millions of acres of virgin forestland nationwide. In Virginia, if the rule is repealed it would open up an estimated...
SCC commissioner, former NextEra attorney declines to recuse herself from merger case
Virginia

SCC commissioner, former NextEra attorney declines to recuse herself from merger case

Aug 19, 2026
Shannon Heckt
On Tuesday, Virginia lawmakers heard from utility regulation experts on the potential impact of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. If approved, the merger would create the largest electric utility in the country. In the days preceding...
As Va. officials weigh data center pushback, report details industry’s public service funding
Virginia

As Va. officials weigh data center pushback, report details industry’s public service funding

Aug 17, 2026
Charlotte Rene Woods Shannon Heckt
As a single mother balancing work against earning a nursing degree, Yvettrise Hoskie thought homeownership was out of her reach. Now, she’s settling into a Henrico County townhome development. The county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund helped with her downpayment, but...