Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon are launching a coalition of artists, musicians and filmmakers who oppose hydraulic fracturing in New York state.

Ono, Lennon and Mark Ruffalo announced the formation of the group at a news conference Wednesday in Manhattan.

Artists Against Fracking includes big names like Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney and Alec Baldwin.

The group hopes to influence Gov. Andrew Cuomo as he decides whether to allow shale gas drilling using high-volume hydraulic fracturing, known as hydrofracking.

Ono and Lennon say the drilling can cause oil wells to leak harmful methane into public water supplies.

The group is calling on Cuomo to ban the practice in New York.

Cuomo is expected to allow drilling to begin on a limited basis near the Pennsylvania state line.