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Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), a global leader in power system protection, automation and control solutions, has released the 2025 SEL Index of Freedom, an evaluation of the business climate across the 50 U.S. states. Now in its fourth year, the Index continues to assess states based on government efficiency, regulatory freedom and energy resiliency—three pillars the U.S.-based company considers essential for a thriving business environment.

This year, the Index includes a Trade Overview for the seven states with the largest SEL presence. This new section highlights each state's role in the global economy, including the total global goods exports and imports, number of exporting companies and jobs supported by international trade.

“As we continue to serve customers throughout the U.S. and globally, this Index is a useful tool to help guide our decisions about where to build, hire and grow,” said SEL founder Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, III. “The addition of trade data provides a clear picture of how states are connecting with the world—an increasingly important factor for companies that invent, design and build things that improve the lives of people around the world.”

The five states that rank highest in the 2025 Index are:

1. South Dakota
2. Wyoming
3. Utah
4. Idaho
5. North Dakota

These states consistently demonstrate strong performance in energy reliability, streamlined governance and regulatory environments that support innovation and growth.

The Index draws from a wide range of publicly available data sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, Energy Information Administration, CATO Institute, and American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

In addition to the rankings, the report includes state-specific highlight pages for the seven profiled states, offering insights into their trade performance and economic strengths.