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Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), a global leader in power system protection, automation and control solutions, has released its 2024 SEL Index of Freedom. This index evaluates the business climate across all 50 states, ranking each based on three critical variables: government efficiency, regulatory freedom and energy resiliency.

This marks the third year that SEL, a manufacturer headquartered in Pullman, Washington, compiled its ranking.

“As our company continues to grow and we plan where to build facilities and hire employees, we consider multiple factors, including this examination of economic and political freedom,” said SEL Founder and President Edmund O. Schweitzer, III. “We’ve found this analysis to be a valuable input when considering where to expand our footprint.”

The SEL Index of Freedom highlights potential advantages or challenges that exist when doing business in each state. This report differs from similar rankings in that energy resiliency significantly influences the score of the state. Affordable and reliable electric power is crucial to business success. The company serves critical infrastructure across the country and around the world, and this unique vantage point consistently highlights the importance of safe, reliable and economical electric power.

SEL determines the ranking using numerous data sources, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC); CATO Foundation; United States Census Bureau; Bureau of Labor Statistics; and United States Energy Information Administration.

The top five states in the 2024 ranking are: Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, South Dakota and Arizona. In addition to the ranked list, the report provides state-specific highlight pages for the ten states with the greatest SEL employee presence. The company has locations in 26 states across the country to best serve its customers.

Over the past few years, SEL has shared its findings with a variety of elected officials, sparking interesting conversations as they compare the strengths and weaknesses of the states they call home.

“We use the index as a pathway for meaningful discussions on policy reform to make it easier to build a building, start a business and hire employees,” said Vice President of Corporate Affairs Adina Bielenberg.