Until recently, Congressional and Presidential leasing moratoria have withdrawn from production oil and natural gas resources lying between 3 and 200 miles off the coast of 20 U.S. states.1 These moratoria have re- cently expired, however, and several policymakers have argued that the federal moratoria should be renewed. Before renewing those restrictions, however, it makes sense to take a hard look at not only the resources that are held back, but also at the total potential economic growth that will be foregone.